That Bugatti in the lake?

Apparently it was a scam...

Yahoo said: The Texas man who drove his $1 million Bugatti Veyron into a lagoon as a insurance scam five years ago may soon have to pay for his crime in federal prison. The U.S. attorney in Lufkin, Texas, said Tuesday that Andy House, 39, had plead guilty to one count of wire mail fraud in a federal criminal case filed two weeks ago. House's sentencing has not been set, but the maximum penalty under law is 20 years in prison. You may recall the story from November 2009, when a passer-by recorded video of the Veyron running into the Gulf Bay near La Marque, Texas. House said at the time he had been distracted by a pelican and his cellphone when the Veyron went for a dip. But House's story quickly started to spring leaks, beginning with the video above showing no birds near the car. Investigators later discover that shortly after buying the Veyron for $1 million in October 2009, House had insured it for $2.2 million — and that he had left the W-16, quad turbocharged engine running for 15 minutes after submerging the car to ensure its destruction. (You might also notice the distinct lack of brake lights in the video above before the car goes in; the car itself was sold for salvage 16 months later.) House and his insurer — whom he accused of misleading him in writing the policy on the Veyron — settled their lawsuit last year. House owned a business repairing exotic cars before launching his watery Bugatti adventure, and he as much as anyone should have known it's hard to pull off a scam in a car that you can't help but watch.

Video (with adult language)

Whooda thunk?

Oh E36 M3

"Pretty sure it's a Lambo, Dude."

Good when people get what they have coming.

I remember the video. Didn't know it was done on purpose.

It's always sad when bad things happen to rich people...

In his defense... The Veyron could easily be mistaken for a submersible watercraft. I mean... if you thought you just bought a submarine that could be driven over land - what would you do with it?

What Woody said.

KyAllroad wrote: What Woody said.

I would still like to be filthy rich - even with all you motherberkeleyers rooting against me.

I'm not sure that the guy was richer than us, just more in debt.

Woody wrote: It's always sad when bad things happen to ass hole people...

Fixed. Income and net worth on either end of the spectrum don't make you good or bad.

What I will agree with is that it's nice to see justice served equally rather than a poor person getting railroaded and a rich one paying their way out of trouble.

Yep it became obvious not too long after the accident, good to see he got what's coming.

I would bet he serves no time and just pays a fine. I'm sure it's just another case of Afluenza. It's not his fault and money can fix it.

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

Woody wrote: It's always sad when bad things happen to ass hole people...

Fixed. Income and net worth on either end of the spectrum don't make you good or bad.

This. I went to school with some seriously rich people, and some we-think-we're-rich people. And, of course, some plain old folks like me. Pretty much all of the seriously rich kids were perfectly cool to hang out with and acted like normal people. It was the we-think-we're-rich types that were arrogant asses.

In reply to KyAllroad and Woody:

WTF is wrong with you guys? Do wish ill-will on porn stars, too? You know, because of envy of things you wish you had?

Thieves and idiots are everywhere in every social strata. I know a woman whose husband left her incredibly rich when he died, she's one of the nicest people you'd ever hope to meet. Her daughters are pretty well grounded too, now her son is a complete horse's ass.

This guy deserves worse than what he will get, IMHO.

What pisses me off is that he wrecked a nice car, and he was too much of a Bob Costas to even wreck the car properly. He just gingerly parks it in the lake instead of driving super-fast and then "losing" control properly into the lake, leaving legit skidmarks. This is the kind of amateur who gets rich?

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

KyAllroad wrote: What Woody said.

I would still like to be filthy rich - even with all you motherberkeleyers rooting against me.

Filthy rich? I remember the reaction around here when I let slip how much I make an hour...

mad_machine wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

KyAllroad wrote: What Woody said.

I would still like to be filthy rich - even with all you motherberkeleyers rooting against me.

Filthy rich? I remember the reaction around here when I let slip how much I make an hour...

I didn't say I "was" filthy rich... only that I'd "like to be". In spite of the distain it would garner me 'round these parts. I would have to console myself with clean hoes, 50 year old bourbon and a full season arrive and drive in Grand Am.

GameboyRMH wrote: What pisses me off is that he wrecked a nice car, and he was too much of a Bob Costas to even wreck the car properly. He just gingerly parks it in the lake instead of driving super-fast and then "losing" control properly into the lake, leaving legit skidmarks. This is the kind of amateur who gets rich?

You do have a point... Not the part where he wrecked a nice car... it's berkeleying hideous... but the part where he should have "accidentally" jumped it thru a plate glass window off a bridge into a boat that then exploded. Then, regardless of fraud charges he would get to keep the style points.

What a Slimeball Costas.

Speaking of Bugatti, http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/4639015137.html

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: What a Slimeball Costas. Speaking of Bugatti, http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/4639015137.html

That's a lot of money for a fiberglass GTO

Hungary Bill wrote:

DuctTape&Bondo wrote: What a Slimeball Costas. Speaking of Bugatti, http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/4639015137.html

That's a lot of money for a fiberglass GTO

And some pretentious ass will pay it. (shakes head)

Shocked, just shocked, I tell you.

Who knew a Bugatti will run for fifteen minutes under water. Oh, and kill the rich