Latest news with #BentleyContinentalGT
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former LAPD reserve officer and his brother charged with insurance fraud over Bentley crash
A former Los Angeles Police Department reserve officer and his brother have been charged with insurance fraud after prosecutors say they misrepresented details in a more than $200,000 insurance claim related to a Bentley crash in January 2023. Eric Benjamin 'Ben' Halem, 37, a former full-time LAPD officer and ex-reserve officer, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of insurance fraud on Friday. His brother Jacob Halem, 32, also pleaded not guilty to a count of insurance fraud, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Eric Halem's car rental company, Drive LA, boasts a fleet of rare, luxury vehicles, including a 2020 Bentley Continental GT. The California Department of Insurance said in a news release on Friday that Eric Halem told his insurance company that his brother had borrowed the vehicle and crashed it on Jan. 5, 2023. Read more: They said a bear attacked their Rolls Royce. But the real culprit was even stranger But the department's investigation revealed that the Bentley had been rented by a Drive LA client and that the renter crashed the vehicle three days before the brothers claimed Jacob crashed it. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to the accident scene involving the rental driver and documented the vehicle's damage with body camera footage, the insurance department said in its release. After the rental driver's insurance claim was denied because of a lack of proper coverage, Eric Halem filed a fraudulent claim with his insurance company on his personal policy, misrepresenting details of the accident, authorities allege. An attorney representing Jacob Halem did not immediately return a request for comment. It is not clear if Eric Halem has an attorney. Read more: A smashed Polaris Slingshot, friends inside the CHP. How investigators unraveled an insurance plot The department of insurance alleges that Eric Halem claimed his brother had been driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, which they said was on Jan. 5, 2023. They submitted what the department called 'staged photographs' of the damaged Bentley on a tow truck. Insurance department investigators said the damage in the photos the brothers submitted was identical to the damage captured on body camera footage from the renter's crash three days earlier. Authorities allege Jacob Halem provided a false statement to the insurance company investigator to corroborate his brother's claim. It isn't clear if the insurance company paid for the car to be fixed. The department of insurance said the "total potential loss" from the claim was $229,283. Eric Halem was removed as a reserve officer with LAPD in March, according to a department spokesperson. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
LAPD reserve officer, brother charged with insurance fraud in Bentley crash
A reserve Los Angeles Police Department officer and his brother are facing felony charges after they allegedly committed insurance fraud with a Bentley convertible. Eric Benjamin Halem, 37, and his 32-year-old brother Jacob Halem were investigated by the California Department of Insurance, the agency said in a news release. The elder Halem, who serves as a reserve officer for the LAPD but was formerly a full-time officer, is accused of falsely reporting a crash involving a 2020 Bentley Continental GT, officials said. According to CDI officials, Benjamin Halem claimed his brother Jacob was the one driving the luxury vehicle when it was involved in a single-vehicle crash on Jan. 5, 2023. The Bentley, however, had been rented out through Ben Halem's company, Drive LA, which offers exotic car rentals and other services. Drive LA's website shows a Bentley Continental GTC available to be rented for $875 per day. It was during a rental period three days before the reported crash that the damage was actually done, CDI said, and it was the unnamed renter, not Jacob Halem, who was driving at the time. After the driver's insurance claim was denied by their company, Ben Halem 'allegedly filed a fraudulent claim with his insurance company on his personal policy, misrepresenting the accident details,' the release explained. 'He claimed that his brother, Jacob Halem, had been driving the vehicle at the time of the crash. To support their false claim, Eric and Jacob Halem submitted staged photographs of the damaged Bentley on a tow truck near the alleged accident location,' CDI said. Jacob Halem also 'provided a false statement to the insurance company investigator in an effort to corroborate his brother's fraudulent claim,' officials said. Their attempt was unsuccessful, however, as insurance adjusters used body-camera footage from Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies responding to the real crash to demonstrate that the damage to the vehicle was done in the renter's crash on Jan. 2, 2023, not three days later. State officials said the fraud could have cost the insurance company more than $229,000. 'Insurance fraud impacts all Californians by driving up costs for consumers and businesses,' CDI said. 'If you suspect insurance fraud, report it to the California Department of Insurance at 800-927-4357 or visit Jail records show Ben Halem was arrested on March 27 and is free on $50,000 bond. Jacob Halem did not appear in a search of the records. The two men have been arraigned, CDI said, but no court information was available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Former LAPD reserve officer and his brother charged with insurance fraud over Bentley crash
A former Los Angeles Police Department reserve officer and his brother have been charged with insurance fraud after prosecutors say they misrepresented details in a more than $200,000 insurance claim related to a Bentley crash in January 2023. Eric Benjamin 'Ben' Halem, 37, a former full-time LAPD officer and ex-reserve officer, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of insurance fraud on Friday. His brother Jacob Halem, 32, also pleaded not guilty to a count of insurance fraud, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Eric Halem's car rental company, Drive LA, boasts a fleet of rare, luxury vehicles, including a 2020 Bentley Continental GT. The California Department of Insurance said in a news release on Friday that Eric Halem told his insurance company that his brother had borrowed the vehicle and crashed it on Jan. 5, 2023. But the department's investigation revealed that the Bentley had been rented by a Drive LA client and that the renter crashed the vehicle three days before the brothers claimed Jacob crashed it. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to the accident scene involving the rental driver and documented the vehicle's damage with body camera footage, the insurance department said in its release. After the rental driver's insurance claim was denied because of a lack of proper coverage, Eric Halem filed a fraudulent claim with his insurance company on his personal policy, misrepresenting details of the accident, authorities allege. An attorney representing Jacob Halem did not immediately return a request for comment. It is not clear if Eric Halem has an attorney. The department of insurance alleges that Eric Halem claimed his brother had been driving the vehicle at the time of the crash, which they said was on Jan. 5, 2023. They submitted what the department called 'staged photographs' of the damaged Bentley on a tow truck. Insurance department investigators said the damage in the photos the brothers submitted was identical to the damage captured on body camera footage from the renter's crash three days earlier. Authorities allege Jacob Halem provided a false statement to the insurance company investigator to corroborate his brother's claim. It isn't clear if the insurance company paid for the car to be fixed. The department of insurance said the 'total potential loss' from the claim was $229,283. Eric Halem was removed as a reserve officer with LAPD in March, according to a department spokesperson.
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Neymar splashes more than £1MILLION on personalised Ferrari family SUV to add to incredible car collection
NEYMAR has splashed out more than £1million on a personalised Ferrari family SUV. The 11 Neymar has added a luxury new car to his collection Credit: Newsflash 11 The Brazilian has splashed out on a £1million Ferrari Credit: Newsflash 11 Neymar has personalised the vehicle with his name Credit: Newsflash 11 Neymar has bought a SUV with another baby on the way Credit: Newsflash 11 The Santos star is expecting a fourth child Credit: Newsflash 11 The Ferrari Purosangue goes from 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds Credit: Alamy He already owns a lavish selection of vehicles totalling millions of pounds, and recently showed off his latest addition. Neymar took to Instagram, sharing a photo of the black four-door, four-seater Purosangue. The trim on the inside of the car has been personalised by the Brazilian, bearing his name. The Ferrari, which cost Neymar just over £1m according to reports in Brazil , goes from 0-60mph in just 3.2 seconds. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL It is the latest luxury car Neymar has got his hands on and will fit nicely in his garage alongside his other Neymar, 33, owns a £300,000 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and a Bentley Continental GT. He also possesses a Lamborghini Huracan with a top speed of 200mph while his Mercedes G Wagon and Aston Martin DBX, another SUV, cater to his large family. Neymar and his girlfriend Bruna Biancardi, 30, are Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Their first child, Mavie, was born in October 2023. Neymar has two other children - Davi Lucca, 13, and Neymar slashes team-mate's tyres in response to harmless shoelace prank as fans say 'that's a bit extreme' 11 Neymar also owns a Bentley Continental GT Credit: Getty 11 The Rolls Royce Ghost is one of his most prized possessions Credit: Getty 11 His Lamborghini Huracan is one of the quickest cars in his collection Credit: Getty 11 The Aston Martin DBX has plenty of room for his family Credit: Alamy 11 Neymar also owns a Mercedes G Wagon Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Neymar splashes more than £1MILLION on personalised Ferrari family SUV to add to incredible car collection
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEYMAR has splashed out more than £1million on a personalised Ferrari family SUV. The Santos star has added to his incredible car collection with another baby on the way. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 Neymar has added a luxury new car to his collection Credit: Newsflash 11 The Brazilian has splashed out on a £1million Ferrari Credit: Newsflash 11 Neymar has personalised the vehicle with his name Credit: Newsflash 11 Neymar has bought a SUV with another baby on the way Credit: Newsflash 11 The Santos star is expecting a fourth child Credit: Newsflash 11 The Ferrari Purosangue goes from 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds Credit: Alamy He already owns a lavish selection of vehicles totalling millions of pounds, and recently showed off his latest addition. Neymar took to Instagram, sharing a photo of the black four-door, four-seater Purosangue. The trim on the inside of the car has been personalised by the Brazilian, bearing his name. The Ferrari, which cost Neymar just over £1m according to reports in Brazil, goes from 0-60mph in just 3.2 seconds. It is the latest luxury car Neymar has got his hands on and will fit nicely in his garage alongside his other extravagant motors. Neymar, 33, owns a £300,000 Rolls-Royce Ghost, and a Bentley Continental GT. He also possesses a Lamborghini Huracan with a top speed of 200mph while his Mercedes G Wagon and Aston Martin DBX, another SUV, cater to his large family. Neymar and his girlfriend Bruna Biancardi, 30, are expecting their second daughter after reuniting last year following a split. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Their first child, Mavie, was born in October 2023. Neymar has two other children - Davi Lucca, 13, and Helena, who is ten months old - born from different mothers, Carolina Dantas and Amanda Kimberlly. Neymar slashes team-mate's tyres in response to harmless shoelace prank as fans say 'that's a bit extreme' 11 Neymar also owns a Bentley Continental GT Credit: Getty 11 The Rolls Royce Ghost is one of his most prized possessions Credit: Getty 11 His Lamborghini Huracan is one of the quickest cars in his collection Credit: Getty 11 The Aston Martin DBX has plenty of room for his family Credit: Alamy
