A Fullerton, Calif., insurance claim adjuster and two accomplices have been arrested by California Department of Insurance Fraud investigators for their alleged participation in an auto insurance fraud scheme. According to investigators, Leonardo Davinci Hines, who was employed by Robert Moreno Insurance Services between Dec. 20, 2001, and Jan. 15, 2003, has been charged with eight felony counts of grand theft and five counts of insurance fraud. His brother, Fredrick Jerome Hines, also has been charged with five counts of grand theft, and a third person, Joslynn Brown, has been charged with one count each of grand theft and insurance fraud.

Leonardo Hines allegedly concocted a scheme to issue bodily injury settlement checks to fictitious claimants of vehicles involved in accidents for which he was administering the claims. Hines allegedly issued 13 checks, totaling $54,477, to these "stuffed" passengers, according to the fraud division, under the names Fredrick Jerome, Gerome Fredrick, Jerome Hines, and Joslynn Brown. Fredrick Hines then deposited the checks into his personal bank account.

Bail has been set at $50,000 for Leonardo Hines, $35,000 for Fredrick Hines, and $15,000 for Joslynn Brown.