Pittsburgh Tow Truck Driver Must Pay Nearly $400K

A Pittsburgh tow truck operator who charged motorists sky-high fees has been ordered to repay nearly $400,000 to insurance companies after pleading guilty to felony insurance fraud and theft by deception.

Allegheny County Judge Randal Todd ruled that Vince Fannick must return $379,000 within 30 days or face time in a state prison. Prosecutors said Fannick preyed on drivers, billing 36 victims between $9,000 and $11,000 for short tows and refusing to release their vehicles until he was paid. His scheme, they said, amounted to holding cars “hostage.”

Judge Todd sentenced Fannick to six months of house arrest followed by five years of probation. As part of the punishment, Fannick must record a public service announcement warning against predatory towing, sell all of his tow trucks, and permanently leave the towing industry.

“It should cause pause among the wreck chasers and the rogue towers,” said Christopher Sloan of the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority, noting that exorbitant billing “is a crime.”

While Pennsylvania places no legal cap on towing fees, few operators have faced prosecution. By coming down hard on Fannick, Judge Todd signaled that predatory behavior will no longer be tolerated. Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/