Elgin man charged with $120,000 insurance fraud

An seemingly innocuous traffic stop over the weekend resulted in felony insurance fraud charges against an Elgin man after his estranged wife told authorities he was using an alias.

Miguel A. Sanson-Becerra, 41, of the 1100 block of Fleetwood Drive, has been charged with insurance fraud of more than $100,000, identity theft of more than $100,000, possession of a false driver's license, making a false affidavit, and obstructing justice, according to Kane County court records.

According to an Elgin police report, Sanson-Becerra was pulled over at about 12:20 a.m. Friday after a traffic stop for a possible DUI.

His estranged wife had told police his real name, and he admitted to police he used an alias.

A background check showed Sanson-Becerra had an outstanding warrant from a 1997 Kane County felony theft case, so he was arrested and released after posting bond, the report said. He was not charged with DUI.

The next day, another officer began investigating how extensively Sanson-Becerra used his alias, and discovered he used at least four aliases when interacting with police, had been deported in 2001, had a previous arrest for child abduction and was wanted for questioning by the Kane County Child Advocacy Center in a criminal sexual abuse case, the report said.

Police said he spent $500 for a set of fake birth certificates and Social Security card, and used an alias to get utilities, rent apartments, buy cars and get loans for them.

"He went on to admit that he had a job with a roofing company in which he filed a (worker's) compensation under this fake name and was awarded over $120,000 between settlements and paid medical bills," according to the police report, which noted he was arrested again.

Sanson-Becerra is being held at the Kane County jail on $200,000 bail, meaning he must post $20,000 to be released while the charges are pending.

He is next due in court on Oct. 8 and faces six to 30 years in prison if convicted of the most severe charges.