FARGO — Four people are accused in Cass County
District Court of destroying BMW and Mercedes Benz sedans in order to
reap insurance checks in a case that holds a lesson or two for would-be
scammers.
Such as: If you're going to punch holes and bang dents in your car, try to vary the pattern a bit.
It was consistency, court papers say, that caught the attention of a Richland County sheriff's deputy who investigated a pair of car vandalism cases in 2015.
In both cases, drivers told authorities they got a flat tire on Interstate 29, and after leaving to get a spare tire they returned to find their vehicles had been damaged on every panel with puncture marks and dents.
Similarities in those dent and puncture patterns prompted authorities to look deeper into those cases and others.
Now, four people—Adem Hokic, Nedzad Hokic, Nedzada Hokic and Mohamed Nuhanovic—are charged in Cass County District Court with one count each of illegally conducting an enterprise, a charge that accuses them of participating in a criminal enterprise involving a pattern of theft and insurance fraud.
Based on court records, Adem Hokic is 61 or 62, Nedzad Hokic is 37 or 38; Nedzada Hokic is 31 or 32 and Nuhanovic is 23 or 24. All are from Fargo.
Court papers say that in phony vandalism scenarios similar to those outlined above, the defendants reaped insurance awards after claims were submitted for five perforated and banged-up vehicles, including BMW and Mercedes Benz sedans and a Chevy Express van.
Court records indicate arrest warrants have been issued for all four defendants.
It was consistency, court papers say, that caught the attention of a Richland County sheriff's deputy who investigated a pair of car vandalism cases in 2015.
In both cases, drivers told authorities they got a flat tire on Interstate 29, and after leaving to get a spare tire they returned to find their vehicles had been damaged on every panel with puncture marks and dents.
Similarities in those dent and puncture patterns prompted authorities to look deeper into those cases and others.
Now, four people—Adem Hokic, Nedzad Hokic, Nedzada Hokic and Mohamed Nuhanovic—are charged in Cass County District Court with one count each of illegally conducting an enterprise, a charge that accuses them of participating in a criminal enterprise involving a pattern of theft and insurance fraud.
Based on court records, Adem Hokic is 61 or 62, Nedzad Hokic is 37 or 38; Nedzada Hokic is 31 or 32 and Nuhanovic is 23 or 24. All are from Fargo.
Court papers say that in phony vandalism scenarios similar to those outlined above, the defendants reaped insurance awards after claims were submitted for five perforated and banged-up vehicles, including BMW and Mercedes Benz sedans and a Chevy Express van.
Court records indicate arrest warrants have been issued for all four defendants.