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Spokane Developer Ron Wells Pleads Guilty To Staging An Accident

U.S. Department of Justice

Spokane developer Ron Wells is one of nine people who have pled guilty to staging car and boat accidents to defraud insurance companies.

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced Tuesday that Wells entered guilty pleas on nine counts: six of mail fraud and three others related to conducting criminal transactions.

Authorities say Wells admitted he worked with others to stage an accident in Liberty Lake in October 2016 that involved his truck, another man’s truck and a third man’s boat. Court documents say Wells and his accomplices lied to first responders about the accident and their alleged injuries. They say the three defendants collected nearly $340,000 from Safeco Insurance Company, with Wells receiving about $60,000. He will be sentenced July 30.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says that was just one of more than a dozen accidents staged in Washington, Idaho, Nevada and California that bilked insurance companies out of millions of dollars.  

Of the other eight who entered pleas, three are from the Spokane area: Ryan Folks Park, Kimberly Rita Boito and Christopher Joseph Frangella. Also entering guilty pleas are Brittany Jo Harris from Newport, two others from California and two from Las Vegas.

Authorities say 11 others accused of similar crimes are awaiting trial.