Fifth Circuit Affirms Conviction in Texas Police Chief Insurance Fraud Case

Farmers Insurance opened a separate investigation. A claims investigator flagged several red flags. Burning a vehicle leaves no profit for a thief, the investigator testified. Another was Filline calling his agent before the police. The investigator also found Filline’s financial stress – a motive for fraud.

Both investigations stalled. Farmers eventually paid about $14,000 to cover the remaining loan on the Navigator.

Two years later, Rymers’ cousin was arrested on unrelated charges. Statements made during that arrest led the police to reopen the arson case. Rymers confessed, identifying his cousin and Filline. He then recorded a conversation with Filline, who expressed concern about the investigation.

A grand jury indicted Filline on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. At trial, he moved for acquittal, arguing no evidence showed agreement between two parties. The district court denied the motion. The jury returned a guilty verdict. Filline got a $5,000 fine, $14,400 restitution, and three years’ probation.

The Fifth Circuit affirmed for three reasons: the jury could infer a fraudulent objective from Filline’s finances and the criminal help he sought; the plan showed agreement among multiple people; and the post-destruction conduct – reporting it stolen, contacting the insurer before police – proved the burning was the means to collect, not a random destruction.

“Viewed together, the evidence allowed the jury to infer that the Navigator’s destruction was not the scheme’s endpoint,” the court wrote. “It was the opening act. The plan was to make the vehicle disappear, keep Filline’s role hidden, report the Navigator stolen, and seek insurance proceeds.”