LAPD Reserve Officer and Brother SLAMMED with Felony Insurance Fraud Charges!

Law enforcement officer from LAPD and reservist 37 year-old Eric Benjamin “Ben” Halem of Porter Ranch was charged with insurance fraud alongside his brother Jacob Halem (32, Tarzana).

Their charges stemmed from an investigation conducted by the California Department of Insurance.

As reported by CDI, the brothers were attempting to file for an auto insurance claim that they were not qualified to benefit from.

Following a fraud referral, the Department of Insurance learned that Eric Halem reported that his 2020 Bentley Continental GT was involved in a crash by his brother Jacob Halem who was driving it on January 5, 2023.

Contrary to his claims, the luxury vehicle had been used in a crash by a renter three days prior to the claimed incident and was rented out through Eric Halem’s exotic car rental business Drive LA.

As a part of their general inquiry into the accident, deputies from Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) responded to the site of the accident and captured video footage of the vehicle damage which was subsequently stored as body cam evidence before the vehicle was taken off site.

It didn’t take long for Halem to contact his insurance company two times in quick succession to get proof of insurance resulting in him releasing the vehicle from impound.