Officials: Man Deliberately Ruined His $1M Car

BEAUMONT — A 39-year-old Lufkin, Texas man has admitted he deliberately drove his $1 million car into Gulf waters so that he could collect insurance on the vehicle. Andy Lee House pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with wire mail fraud yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin. House faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

According to federal prosecutors, in October 2009, House purchased a 2006 Bugatti Veyron for $1 million and had it insured for $2.2 million. On November 11, 2009, House drove the vehicle into the Gulf Bay near La Marque, Texas, and upon exiting the Bugatti, left the motor running, resulting in the engine taking on large amounts of salt water which destroyed the vehicle. House reported to first responders he was reaching for his cell phone when he swerved and accidently drove into the bay. On November 12, 2009, House called the insurance company and filed a $2.2 million claim on the Bugatti. However, House did not know that another motorist had videoed the accident, including the moment he drove the vehicle into the water, and then posted the video to YouTube. Investigators were able to use the video to find discrepancies in House’s account.