Man sentenced to prison for insurance fraud over lies about how his vehicle was damaged

A Woodland Hills man was sentenced Monday to two years in prison for lying to his insurance company about how the damage occurred, prosecutors said.

Raymond Merkley, 41, had been charged in connection with filing a fraudulent auto insurance claim, according to a news release from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

Merkley damaged his vehicle while illegally off-roading in Hungry Valley State Park in the northern part of Ventura County in November 2016, prosecutors said. In March, he pleaded guilty to presenting the false claim as well as prior convictions, authorities said.

“Afterwards, Merkley repeatedly lied to his insurance carrier about when and how these off-roading damages actually occurred,” the news release states.

Merkley has paid $3,821 in restitution to the insurance company, prosecutors said.