Auto Shop Owner Sentenced for Scam

An auto body repair shop owner was sentenced Wednesday to 60 days in jail--or 30 days labor with a Caltrans road crew--for falsely billing insurers, according to Los Angeles city officials.

Shahen Mirzayans, owner of Standard Auto Body Inc. in the 12000 block of Sherman Way, must also pay $4,150 in fines and court costs, officials said.

Undercover agents with the state Bureau of Automotive Repair investigated the shop after a customer complaint. The agents took two cars to the shop and determined that about $3,000 was billed to an insurance company for work that was not performed.

Mirzayans pleaded no contest to grand theft and failing to provide a written cost estimate to a customer.

He also will be placed on probation for three years, said Mike Qualls, a spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney.