Former Castroville, TX, Police Chief Christopher Filline was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud after orchestrating an insurance fraud scheme involving the destruction of his own vehicle, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. The verdict was reached by a federal jury, bringing an end to a case that began with Filline's 2020 indictment.
Court documents reveal that in 2016, Filline, 58, devised a plan to defraud Farmers Insurance Group by falsely claiming his vehicle had been stolen. Working with two co-conspirators, Filline arranged for his vehicle to be taken and set on fire using an accelerant. He then filed a false report with the Lytle Police Department, followed by an insurance claim with Farmers Insurance Group. The fraudulent claim resulted in Filline receiving a payout of $14,388.25.
Filline’s criminal actions came to light through investigations led by the FBI, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office. He now faces up to 20 years in federal prison, as well as a $250,000 fine. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Jan, 22, 2025.
