Staged Crash Fraud Hits New York | New York City News

New York City News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 28, 2026 · 1m

A staged car crash on the Belt Parkway went viral — but it wasn’t an accident. It was part of a brazen auto insurance fraud ring that orchestrated at least three fake wrecks to pocket payouts. The mastermind, Jaime Huiracocha, got 1-3 years; driver Victor Murillo faces two. Governor Hochul made it clear: staging crashes for cash won’t fly. With insurance rates already sky-high in New York, this case underscores how fraud drives up costs for everyone — and officials are pushing hard to rein in the racket. Two others await sentencing in September as reforms begin to roll out, though experts say…