Aurora man sentenced 8 years probation for assisting in auto insurance fraud

An Aurora man was sentenced to eight years of probation for allegedly helping steal about $268,000 in auto insurance claims, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced.

In addition, an Arapahoe County District Court judge ordered Shawn Brassfield, 55, to pay $23,300 and serve 80 hours of community service, according to a Tuesday news release.

Brassfield was convicted of participating in an auto insurance fraud scheme in 2020 involving filing fake claims, the attorney general’s office said. An internal investigation within Travelers Insurance found employee Colette Palin, 63, filed suspicious claims, AG officials said, and that Brassfield received two checks Palin issued.

Palin admitted to company investigators that she issued fraudulent checks, the attorney general’s office said. She later said she committed fraud to help her pay off her gambling debts and her sister’s medical bills.

The insurance company handed over the investigation to a state agency, Financial Fraud Unit in the Criminal Justice Section of the Colorado Department of Law, which claims it found Palin issued more than 60 false checks totaling nearly $270,000. Brassfield received more than $23,000, the investigation found.

Palin’s sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 19.

One other person assisted in the scheme, 47-year-old former police officer Malee Lor. All three pleaded guilty.

The Attorney General charged all three defendants with felony theft and insurance fraud. Lor was sentenced with 10 years of probation and has to pay more than $31,000, the amount equal to the money stolen.

“We all end up footing the bill when people engage in insurance fraud,” Weiser said in a statement. “Our department is committed to holding accountable those who engage in fraud. This case sends a clear message to fraudsters — if you think you can get away with fraud, think again.”