An Oxnard resident has entered a guilty plea for automobile insurance fraud, as per the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. Hector Murrillo, born on October 14, 1995, submitted his plea on June 12, 2025, after being charged with intentionally misleading his insurance company about the timing of vehicle damage to obtain coverage under pretenses.
January of 2023 saw Murrillo file a report with police claiming his vehicle had been struck overnight. Following this, he lodged a claim with the Progressive Insurance Company. However, upon investigation, it was discovered that the damages he reported predated the inception of his insurance policy with Progressive. It was established that the damage had existed since at least October 2022. The Ventura County District Attorney's Office stated that Murrillo made false statements about this preexisting damage.
Katherine Plante, a Deputy District Attorney and member of the county's Auto Insurance Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case. She will now be seeking restitution from the Progressive Insurance Company, as Murrillo’s sentencing is set for July 30, 2025. The sentencing will transpire in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court at 9:00 a.m.
If convicted, the consequences for Murrillo could be as severe as a five-year stint in county jail and possibly a fine of up to $50,000 or double the amount of fraud, depending on which sum is greater.
