Buried Pickup Leads To Fraud Charge Against Oklahoma Men

Authorities are looking for a Langley man after he and a Vinita man were charged this week with insurance fraud.

State Insurance Commissioner John Doak says 49-year-old Robert Campbell and 25-year-old Larry Ezell buried a 2014 Chevy pickup then reported it stolen. Ezell was arrested Wednesday.

“Insurance fraud is a serious crime. Bogus claims lead to higher premiums for all of us. These charges are the result of excellent work by several agencies. We were happy to assist with the investigation,” said John Doak. 

Ezell is in the Mayes County jail.

The truck was reported stolen in December 2014. Doak says the insurance company settled the $28,068 claim about three months later. 

An investigation began after the custom wheels and tires from the missing truck were found on another vehicle in Craig County. The owner of that vehicle told detectives he purchased the wheels and tires from Ezell. 

In a news release, Doak said during an interview with Langley Police, Ezell said Campbell gave him the key to the truck and said it needed to “go away.” 

Ezell said Campbell told him his roommate had lost his job and wouldn’t be able to make the payments on the truck.  Ezell said he then buried the vehicle.