Representative Mike Collins is advocating for federal intervention to combat widespread staged car crash insurance fraud schemes, which cost the U.S. economy billions annually and endanger lives. He calls for the Justice Department to create a federal task force and for Congress to pass his 'Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act,' making such fraud a specific federal crime with severe penalties. The issue gained prominence after a cooperating witness, Cornelius Garrison, was murdered in New Orleans.
REP MIKE COLLINS: Staged car crash fraud puts all of us at risk. Congress and the Justice Dept can stop it
OpinionCrimeOrganizedCorruptionCongressPoliticsJustice-departmentTrucks
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Representative Mike Collins is advocating for federal intervention to combat widespread staged car crash insurance fraud schemes, which cost the U.S. economy billions annually and endanger lives. He calls for the Justice Department to create a federal task force and for Congress to pass his 'Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act,' making such fraud a specific federal crime with severe penalties. The issue gained prominence after a cooperating witness, Cornelius Garrison, was murdered in New Orleans.
Trending- 1 2014: Investigations involving U-Haul-related fraud began in New York.
- 2 2019: 20 criminal cases opened involving U-Haul fraud.
- 3 2020: Cornelius Garrison murdered in New Orleans.
- 4 Earlier this month (June 2025): Rep. Mike Collins led call to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
- Financial drain on the U.S. economy ($308 billion annually, $45 billion in property-and-casualty lines).
- Increased insurance premiums for independent truckers (nearly 50% jump in three years) and rideshare passengers (23% of Uber ride cost).
- Corrosion of the rule of law.
- Endangerment of motorists' lives.
- Potential for federal task force and new legislation to combat the fraud.
- Lower premiums, support for small trucking operators, safer roads if reforms are implemented.
What: Rep. Mike Collins is calling for a federal task force and new legislation to combat widespread staged car crash insurance fraud schemes.
When: Earlier this month (June 2025) for the call to Pam Bondi; article published Friday (June 6, 2025).
Where: New Orleans (Louisiana), New York (New York), Georgia (state), and other cities across the United States.
Why: Staged car crash fraud schemes are widespread, costing the U.S. economy billions annually, increasing insurance premiums for honest drivers and businesses, and endangering lives, as exemplified by the murder of a cooperating witness.
How: Rep. Collins led a group of U.S. representatives in calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to create a federal task force and introduced the 'Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act' in Congress.