Three Sentenced in 'Operation Bear Claw' Fraud Scheme Using Costume to Damage Luxury Cars

Three people were sentenced to 180 days in jail for using a bear costume to stage fake attacks on luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce, in Lake Arrowhead.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 6:21 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from People

The Conclusion of Operation Bear Claw

A bizarre insurance fraud investigation, dubbed "Operation Bear Claw" by the California Department of Insurance (CDI), reached a legal resolution on Thursday, April 16. Three individuals Alfiya Zuckerman, Ruben Tamrazian, and Vahe Muradkhanyan were sentenced to 180 days in jail and two years of supervised probation. The group pleaded no contest to felony charges of injuring or destroying insured property after attempting to convince multiple insurance providers that a wild animal was responsible for extensive damage to their luxury vehicle fleet.

A Costumed Deception in Lake Arrowhead

The investigation was triggered when an insurance company flagged a suspicious claim involving a 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost in Lake Arrowhead, California. The suspects provided video footage claiming a bear had entered the vehicle and shredded the interior. However, upon closer inspection by CDI detectives and a biologist from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, it was determined that the "bear" in the video displayed human movements. The biologist confirmed the subject was actually a person wearing a brown bear costume.

Evidence Recovered and Financial Impact

Detectives executed a search warrant at the suspects' residence, where they successfully recovered the bear costume used in the staged attacks. This physical evidence, combined with the forensic analysis of the video, exposed the group's attempts to collect $141,839 in total payouts. In addition to the jail time, the court has begun ordering restitution, with Zuckerman and Tamrazian already instructed to pay back a combined total of over $107,000, while Muradkhanyan’s final restitution figure is currently being determined.