A 33-year-old Wyoming man, Paul Shapiro, has been arrested after authorities say he staged a car burglary in an attempt to collect insurance money. Shapiro is facing felony charges for insurance fraud and misdemeanor charges for providing false information to law enforcement.
The incident began on August 17, 2023, when Shapiro reported a burglary and grand theft to a Teton County Sheriff’s deputy. According to court documents, Shapiro claimed to have parked his truck at Mike Harris Campground in Victor on August 16 and then rode his e-bike to Driggs to meet a friend. Upon returning, he reported that several items were missing from his truck, including guns, snowboards, skis, six mountain bikes, tools, and other valuables. Shapiro allegedly told deputies he would provide a detailed list of the stolen items and contact his insurance company.
However, deputies noted that Shapiro never submitted the list of stolen items, and the case was eventually closed due to his lack of cooperation.
The investigation took a new turn on May 30, 2024, when Shapiro was arrested during a traffic stop related to an ongoing stalking investigation. Authorities served a search warrant at his residence in Jackson, Wyoming, and discovered evidence of property theft, check fraud, and burglaries in multiple jurisdictions, including Idaho and Wyoming. Further investigation revealed Shapiro had a storage unit in Driggs, which he had registered under a false name, “Mike Jones.” Deputies found stolen property from several burglaries inside the unit.
On August 6, investigators examined Shapiro’s phone and discovered a note dated August 17, 2023, titled “Car Theft Insurance Claim,” which listed items Shapiro had previously reported as stolen. The note’s metadata revealed it was created on July 14, over a month before the theft was reported. Further investigation found that many of the items Shapiro claimed were stolen were located in his truck, storage unit, and home.
Shapiro’s insurance company confirmed he had reported the stolen property, but no payment had been issued. Authorities issued a summons on August 29, and Shapiro was served on September 4. He appeared in court for an initial hearing, with further proceedings yet to be scheduled.
If convicted, Shapiro faces up to 15 and a half months in prison for insurance fraud and up to 25 years for the separate theft charges. Shapiro is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
