Las Vegas Business Owner Pleads Guilty to $90,000 Insurance Fraud Scheme

LAS VEGAS - A Las Vegas business owner pleaded guilty today to arranging a fake armed robbery of his cell phone repair store to collect money from his insurance company.

"When a business owner chooses to engineer a $90,000 fraud scheme, they are not engaging in a victimless crime," said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "They are driving up premium costs for honest, hardworking business owners who play by the rules every day. Our office, in lockstep with our federal and state law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute individuals who prioritize corporate greed over legal accountability. This guilty plea underscores our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the integrity of our financial systems and protecting insurance providers from deceptive exploitation."

"Erwin Lanada ran a calculated scheme of deception, involving a co-conspirator to fake a robbery at gunpoint for financial gain," said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. "The FBI, working alongside local law enforcement, successfully thwarted his scheme. His guilty plea highlights law enforcement's commitment to protecting financial systems from fraud, which directly impacts the insurance premiums for many Americans. Insurance is a tool American families depend on to safeguard their assets and finances. That tool has become more and more expensive for every American family due to fraud and fraud's impact on skyrocketing premiums."

According to court documents, Erwin Lanada owned CPR Cellphone Repair, a store in Las Vegas that repaired and sold cell phones and other electronic devices. On October 25, 2023, Lanada hired and gave Marco Antonio Capistran a revolver to use during a fake robbery of CPR Cellphone Repair, and he promised to pay Capistran for his participation. On October 26, 2023, during the fake robbery, Capistran pointed the revolver at Lanada, he demanded electronic devices, parts, and cash, and he tied Lanada with zip ties, then fled the store. On October 28, 2023, Lanada filed fraudulent insurance claims with his insurance company for property loss and loss of income purportedly resulting from the fake robbery. In December 2023, the insurance company sent Lanada checks totaling approximately $88,611.23 for his claims.

Lanada pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. He faces the statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison at sentence before United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II on January 5, 2027. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Schiess is prosecuting the case.

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