LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A Las Vegas business owner pleaded guilty to arranging a fake armed robbery of his cell phone repair store to collect money from his insurance company.
According to court documents, Erwin Lanada owned CPR Cellphone Repair, a store in Las Vegas that repaired and sold cell phones and other electronic devices. On Oct. 25, 2023, Lanada hired and gave Marco Antonio Capistran a revolver to use during a fake robbery of the store and promised to pay Capistran for his participation.
On Oct. 26, 2023, during the fake robbery, Capistran pointed the revolver at Lanada, demanded electronic devices, parts and cash, and tied Lanada with zip ties before fleeing the store.
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On Oct. 28, 2023, Lanada filed fraudulent insurance claims for property loss and loss of income purportedly resulting from the fake robbery. In December 2023, the insurance company sent Lanada checks totaling approximately $88,611.23 for his claims.
Lanada pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. He faces the statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison at sentencing before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II on Jan. 5, 2027. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
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