Friday, March 12, 2021

212-YEAR SENTENCE WELL DESERVED, BUT HE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE DEATH PENALTY

Hawthorne Man Gets 212 Years For Collecting Insurance After Driving Off Of San Pedro Wharf, Killing 2 Autistic Sons

 

LAPPL News Watch

March 12, 2021

 

A 46-year-old Hawthorne man was sentenced to 212 years in federal prison on Thursday, March 11, for fraudulently obtaining $260,000 from insurance policies after, authorities say, he purposely drove off of the San Pedro wharf to drown two severely autistic sons strapped in car seats. He was also ordered to pay $260,000-plus in restitution in the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the IRS. 
 
Prosecutors, who successfully recommended the maximum sentence, said Ali Elmezayen also intended for his wife or domestic partner at the time, Rabab Diab, to die, noting she wasn’t a strong swimmer. Court documents describe their relationship both ways. 
 
The sentencing stems from the October 2019 conviction of Elmezayen for 14 charges that include mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering. 
 
He had taken out life insurance policies on his wife and kids and claimed his sons’ deaths were an accident in order to collect, prosecutors have said. 
 
The April 9, 2015, crash killed Elhassan, 13, and Abdelkarim, 8. Diab escaped the car and was rescued by a witness. Elmezayen did not make an attempt to help Diab or the boys, prosecutors said.

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