James Tassi Jr. is charged with perjury, insurance fraud and criminal mischief. (Provided by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)
Boynton broker wrecks Lexus in Delray canal so he can file insurance claim, officials say
October 5, 2016
In late August, James Tassi Jr.’s 2015 Lexus crashed into a canal near Delray Beach.
It went just as he’d planned, according to state officials.
The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud says the 58-year-old Boynton Beach broker drove his luxury vehicle into a canal off Half Mile Road west of Delray so he could make a false insurance claim on the damage.
Court records show the claim was more than $20,000.
An official from the state’s Division of Insurance Fraud was contacted in August by someone about Tassi’s plan – called “vehicle ditching,” according to a state report.
Video and audio, reviewed by a state official Aug. 26, show Tassi drive the white Lexus into the canal, according to the report.
After the wreck, Tassi made a false police report and a false insurance claim, officials say. He was arrested Monday afternoon on perjury, insurance fraud and criminal mischief charges, according to Palm Beach County Jail records.
Court records show Tassi has had a slew of traffic violations in Palm Beach County since 2002, but has an otherwise clean record in the county.