Four men are facing more charges after Hamilton police wrapped up an insurance fraud investigation focusing on two collision centres that began in February.
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Mario Marrazzo, 45; Frank (Jr.) Marrazzo, 39; Frank (Sr.) Marrazzo, 67, and Larry Moffatt, 49, all from Hamilton, are each charged with conspiracy to commit fraud over $5,000.
The three Marrazzos each face additional charges of fraud under $5,000, bringing Mario’s total charges to six and Frank Junior’s to four. Frank Senior is facing one charge.
Moffatt was previously charged with three counts of driving while prohibited.
All four appeared in court on Tuesday and were advised of all charges.
Project Overhaul began after police found evidence of both businesses seeking out accident victims directly from Collision Reporting Centres located in Hamilton. The “chasers” would allegedly approach accident victims when they come out of the centres, offer assistance and get them to bring their cars to the previously mentioned body shops.
Police said once a car was towed to these locations, more damage was done to it and a severely inflated, fraudulent claim was sent out to the insurance company.
On Aug. 24, police executed search warrants at Stoney Creek Collision on Queenston Road and at Southwestern Collision on Dundurn Street. The two businesses, each operated by a different member of the Marrazzo family, were being investigated for insurance fraud.
Detective Paul Staats said after the initial arrests in August, police received well over 100 citizen complaints about allegedly fraudulent business practices. He said although police ultimately decided to focus the investigation on two collision centres, they were also getting information on wellness clinics and rental car agencies.
“We did not have the staff really to pursue it all, so we streamlined the investigation to just dealing with the two garages,” said Staats.
Both collisions centres are still licensed by the city.
In an email, city spokesperson Debbie Spence said the matter will be reviewed at a licensing tribunal hearing during which the licence can be revoked, suspended, approved with conditions or simply approved.
“Generally, we do not want to interfere with ongoing investigations or charges that are before the courts,” said Spence.
