NEWS IN BRIEF ; Lawrence Man Gets Two Years in Car Insurance Scam Death

A Lawrence man who staged a car accident that killed one of his relatives has been sentenced to two years in jail after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

The September 2003 crash prompted a statewide crackdown on insurance fraud. Jacinto Maldonado Jr., 26, was driving a car that was supposed to hit another car, but the car also struck a utility pole, killing Altagracias Arias, 64.

Relatives said they've suffered enough and more time for Maldonado would just add to their misery. The investigation uncovered a network of auto insurance scammers, including lawyers, chiropractors, insurance agents and people who staged fake accidents.

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