SPOKANE, Wash. — A man who led a massive insurance fraud scheme has pleaded guilty to conspiracy, tax fraud, and failing to appear at court proceedings.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, William Oldham Mize orchestrated a scheme involving intentional automobile and boat crashes, as well as staged home “accidents,” to file false and fraudulent insurance claims and collect the proceeds.
Court documents reveal that Mize’s scheme operated from 2013 to 2018 and involved numerous staged crashes in Washington and Nevada. Mize obtained more than $6 million through these fraudulent activities and retained most of the money
Mize first appeared in federal court on his indictment on Jan. 9, 2019. Following his initial appearance, he was released pending trial. However, in July 2019, Mize evaded supervision and became a fugitive, living under multiple false identities.
On Nov. 28, 2023, U.S. Marshals apprehended Mize in Jacksonville, Florida, after receiving a lead that he was using a false identity to attempt to sell a yacht in the area. He was located and arrested at a marina in central Florida and transported to Eastern Washington, where he remains in custody.
“This case highlights the commitment of the FBI, the U.S. Marshals, IRS Criminal Investigation, and our law enforcement partners to hold fraudsters and fugitives accountable, regardless of how long it takes or how far they try to run,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle Field Office. “Mr. Mize pleaded guilty today after a multi-year, multi-million-dollar scheme and years of evading the law.”
Mize is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on Nov. 6 in Spokane.
