Alshon Jeffery pleads not guilty to two felony charges of insurance fraud, claiming it was a miscommunication. The case involves a car crash where he allegedly filed a false claim after having no insurance at the time of the accident.
Key points
Alshon Jeffery pleads not guilty to insurance fraud charges
Case involves a car crash with a Lyft driver in San Diego
Jeffery allegedly filed a false insurance claim after the accident
Attorney claims it was a miscommunication, not fraud
Damages from the crash exceed $23,000
Mentioned in this story
Alshon JefferyPhiladelphia EaglesChicago Bears
LyftTesla
SAN DIEGO – Retired Super Bowl-winning NFL receiver Alshon Jeffery showed up in court here on April 23, and pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of insurance fraud after failing to show up in court for his last scheduled court appearance March 9.
Jeffery, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears, also issued a denial of the allegations against him through his attorney, Brian Watkins.
“This case is just a miscommunication mishap,” Watkins told USA TODAY Sports after the court proceeding. “The insurance company didn’t pay out any money or anything. It’s all just miscommunication. It’s not even really a case.”
San Diego prosecutors disagree. The case stems from a car crash last September, when Jeffery rear-ended a Lyft driver’s Tesla on northbound Interstate 5 in San Diego County. According to court records from prosecutors obtained by USA TODAY Sports, Jeffery had no insurance coverage when the crash happened on Sept. 21, but he filed a false claim stating the accident happened Sept. 28 − after he obtained a new insurance policy on Sept. 24.
Repair estimates showed $13,058.90 in damages to Jeffery’s 2021 Mercedes, while the Lyft driver's Tesla sustained more than $10,000 in damage, according to a court filing from an investigator for the San Diego County District Attorney.
Jeffery, 36, was pulled over and arrested in Encinitas, California, April 15, after his failure to appear in court last time led to a warrant for his arrest, according to the San Diego County Sherriff's Office.
Jeffery appeared this time in front of San Diego Superior Court Judge Aaron Katz and let his attorney do most of the talking in court. Dressed in black dress pants and a light jacket, Jeffery affirmed to the judge he was waiving his right to a preliminary hearing within 10 court days of his not-guilty plea on April 23.
The preliminary hearing is now scheduled for July 13.
Q&A
What are the felony charges against Alshon Jeffery?
Alshon Jeffery faces two felony charges of insurance fraud related to a car accident.
What incident led to Alshon Jeffery's insurance fraud charges?
The charges stem from a car crash in September where Jeffery rear-ended a Lyft driver while allegedly uninsured.
What did Alshon Jeffery's attorney say about the fraud allegations?
Jeffery's attorney stated that the case is a 'miscommunication mishap' and that no money was paid out by the insurance company.
What damages were reported from the car crash involving Alshon Jeffery?
The crash resulted in over $13,000 in damages to Jeffery's Mercedes and more than $10,000 in damages to the Lyft driver's Tesla.
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By hiring Watkins, Jeffery is getting an attorney with experience in high-profile local cases. Watkins previously represented former NFL star tight end Kellen Winslow in his trial on rape charges in San Diego County in 2019. Watkins also represented aspiring marketer Lloyd Lake in his civil case against former USC football star Reggie Bush – a case that helped lead to sanctions against the USC football program.
Jeffery earned more than $63 million during his NFL career from 2012 to 2020, according to Spotrac. He played college football at South Carolina and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. He was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2013 season and later was named one of the team’s best 100 players of all-time (No. 80) in the team’s centennial scrapbook in 2019.
After signing with the Eagles in 2017, Jeffery caught three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl in 2018, when the Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33.
Court records show Jeffery recently has lived in Encinitas, a coastal city in north San Diego County.