Fugitive charged in HHG moving scheme captured after 33 months on the run
A Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General fugitive has been arrested after a 33-month flight from justice.
Noam Israeli was arrested Nov. 27, 2015, in Arlington, Wash., after police discovered Israeli was wanted in California by state authorities, DOT OIG and the FBI. He is being held in Snohomish County, Washington pending extradition to California to face charges for his alleged involvement in a household goods moving fraud scheme.
In March 2013, Israeli and seven others were indicted on charges of grand theft and conspiracy to commit theft, extortion, money laundering, insurance fraud and tax fraud. The DOT said investigators believe Israeli and his co-conspirators were involved in a scheme to lure customers into a moving contract by offering fake low estimates and later extorting the victims by fraudulently inflating the final bill by double or triple the estimate.
Israel was a foreman for ASAP Relocation, America’s Best Movers, Champion Movers, Fast Moving Van Lines, Quick Quotes for Moving, and Encore Movers – all of which are Northern California-based moving companies.
According to court documents, between 2005 and 2012, Israeli and others go business for one of these businesses by offering low rates for packing services and supplies, then doubled or tripled the original prices. Customers who refused to pay the increased fees were threatened with the placement of their belongings in storage and incurring additional fees, the DOT OIG said.
