GTA man who staged collisions gets 3.5 year jail sentence, must pay $375,000 in restitution

The 38-year old Scarborough man who pleaded guilty to bilking insurers out of $1.5 million through a series of staged accidents has been sentenced to three and a half years in a federal penitentiary and must pay $375,000 in restitution.

Uthayakanthan Thirunavukkarasu, also known as Max or Mano, admitted to participating in a criminal organization, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and fraud charges for a total of 17 charges related to 13 separate staged accidents. In January 2012, he entered a plea of guilty to instructing the commission of offences for a criminal organization, proceeds of crime, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and fraud charges in connection with a staged collision ring, known as Project 92, across the Greater Toronto Area.  He was personally associated with more than a dozen staged collisions. Thirunavukkarasu is the 29th person convicted in relation to this investigation. He is the 2nd person convicted of committing or instructing offenses for the benefit of a criminal organization.

IBC says the stiff sentence sends a tough message on staged collisions.

“Staged collisions draw innocent drivers into dangerous situations,” said Rick Dubin, Vice President of Investigative Services at Insurance Bureau of Canada. “It’s a safety and security issue and we need to strike hard at the core of this practice and eliminate it.”

Print