Amir Eftekhari of Cyrus Towing Hires Professional Car Crasher to Hit Innocent Victims to Defraud Insurance Companies and Steal Cars, According to Former Employee.

"Raymundo" aka "Delta"

He’s 71 years old. Mexican. Talks with a squeaky and calm high pitched voice. Grey hair. Glasses (some times). 5 foot, one inch. As he’s driving, Cook believes the following happened.

Espiridion Raymundo Mendieta Morante (“Raymundo”) found his target car: a red Toyota Prius. I want this one, he thinks. He calculates what angle to hit the car like a pool game. He rear ends Elder Arambula’s red Toyota Prius at an angle, and like a struck pool ball, the Prius veers right. Raymundo then accelerates, knowing he needs to hit the car again to make it spin and confuse his victims. Raymundo hits the passenger door head on. Exito! (Success!) The red Prius spins out of control, and Arambula’s driver crashes again the guardrail, almost flying off the edge. Raymundo thinks, Chevere. I’m the best at this. I’m god. I choose who lives and who dies on these freeways. I did it again! 

 The thrill and the high. So satisfying. This is what Raymundo lives for.

Lying in wait, before the two can call AAA, is also Cyrus Towing. The driver, Amir Efetkhari (“Amir”), defrauds Arambula by claiming Toyota’s SOS system went off and that All State will pay for his tow free of charge. When the CHP Officer, Eric Voss comes onto the crash scene, Voss orders Amir to tow both cars towed off the freeway, giving the impression this is an official CHP Tow.

Raymundo doesn’t want to explain what happened, but he says he’s an unlicensed taxi driver, who lost his Uber license. Raymundo also has a passenger.

Immediately after the collision, the Filipino passenger, who wears nurse scrubs, calls, or pretends to call, someone immediately. He fails to ask if Arambula or his passenger, Paul Cook, is ok.

He just keeps talks on the phone in order to avoid talking to Arambula and Cook. (Justin Bieber does this, when he wants to avoid reporters.)

Raymundo’s passenger alleges his name is Aldrin Soliman Garcia. Although he alleges he was a nurse on a taxi ride seeing an in house client, Garcia has the same address as Raymundo. Garcia has a cancelled security guard license, a cancelled firearm license, and a cancelled baton license. 

It's suspected that although the Filipino nurse is using Garcia's name, this is not the actual name of the nurse.

Cyrus Towing charged Arambula $1,700 for towing and 3-4 days of storing his car. Business Owner "Dee Dee" says on recording that CHP called Cyrus Towing to tow the car.

Amir Eftekhari

Cook contacted former tow truck driver, Vinny Smith. Cook showed Smith a picture of Raymundo. Smith said, “That’s ‘Delta!’ He does work for us. He calls in after he ‘sees’ a car crash.” Smith calls him a Bird Dogger, someone lying in wait to report car crashes to tow companies.

 But after Cook explains that he believe that Ryamond intentionally hits vehicles causing them to spin out, Smith swears and says, “Oh, shit! No wonder.”

Smith recalls that around April of May this year, in Los Angeles, he towed a Hyundai or Kia in Los Angeles that Delta called in. The car spun out, like Arambula’s Prius, and hit a pole.

Cook and the Hyundai are not the only one. Cook interviewed another former victim, Elias Hernandez. Two years ago, while Hernandez was changing lanes in

Los Angeles, a car hit him, and he spun out in the middle lane near the 101-110 freeway interchange. Like Cook, he was dazed and confused and didn’t know what happened. Hernandez described that an older man, short, squeaky voice, Hispanic, as the driver that hit him.

Hernandez states that Amir defrauded him out of $17,000.

Smith states that Cyrus Towing, along with Autopro Collision Center, owned by “Yazeem Karoom” aka “Jessie”, commit insurance fraud together. Every car that Amir brings to Karoom, Amir receives a percentage of money.

The other day, Arambula and his college roommate, Marilyn Angel, found Raymundo’s car parked right outside of Autopro Collision Center.

Smith states that the main players of the operation are “Dee Dee”; Amir; “Delta”; and “Jessie”. He also believes Lakeshore Towing is also involved in the fraud ring.

Yazeem Karoom aka "Jessie"

Smith states that Amir cheated him out of $3,000 in stolen wages. Amir has been sued numerous times for fraud. It appears he’s been found civilly liable for a judgment and attempted to discharge his debt through bankruptcy.

Cook and Arambula request that law enforcement do everything it takes to halt these operations immediately, before more drivers get hurt or killed. The two suspect that Raymundo may also be a hit man.

Suspected Photo of Amir Eftekhari

Cyrus Tow Defrauds Crash Victim, Ransoms Victim's Car and Demands $1,700 in Cash, or Else They Take Elder Arambula’s Car, And Threaten a $30,000 Bill.

"Dee Dee" of Cyrus Tow.

On September 26, 204, around 7:40 PM, a car rear ended Arambula, causing his car to spin out and hit the guardrail. About 20 minutes after the crash, a tow truck driver spotted the broken red Prius. The tow truck driver rubber necked his head out the window, grinning. Cyrus Towing came before the police did and without asking Arambula, hooked up the Prius’s bumper to his tow truck. He told Arambula, “Toyota’s SOS button went off. They’re sending emergency service. Everything is free.”

In about 20 minutes, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) came. Officer Eric Voss ordered the driver of Cyrus Tow to take both the Prius and the Chevy Trax off the freeway and to the local side street.

The tow truck driver asked Cook where they needed to go. The driver ordered the Uber. It was all free according to Cyrus Tow. The Uber driver came and was rushing Arambula and Cook to finish their statement with the police. The police wouldn’t permit Arambula to take pictures of the crashed Chevy.

The tow truck driver said, “Hey – your car’s been totaled. It’s worth nothing. But don’t worry. Toyota will take care of everything. Toyota and All State’s emergency service called us. The service, tow, and impound will be free. Everything is going to be free. And you’re going to get another car. Just sign here and give me the keys.”  Arambula signed and gave him the keys.

Both Arambula and Cook had long distance AAA service and could’ve towed the car to either of their places. Little did they know the car would be towed about 40 miles away from the crash location in Stanton California.

Cook and Arambula started feeling that something or everything was wrong. They confirmed that Toyota nor All State ever called Cyrus Tow. Cook called Cyrus Tow, and talked to the business manager, who identified herself as “Dee Dee”. Dee Dee said, “We’re closing shop now. Don’t worry about it. Insurance will take care of everything. And if not, we’ll work with you on the bill on Monday. You don’t need to worry about it. We’re here to help.”

Little did Cook and Arambula know that three or four days later on Monday, when they would try to get the car out, the bill would be $1,700 that had to be paid in cash. (The Vehicle Code requires tow companies to accept credit card payment.)

Cyrus Tow charged $625 for the tow, $295 for the tow hook up fee, $150 for a forklift fee, $250 for an after hour fee, and $150 for a “hazmat/clean up” fee.

When Arambula told them that this was wrong, Dee Dee stated, “You only have three options! Leave the car here, while you file a claim with your insurance! Leave the car here, while you file a claim with the other guy’s insurance! Or you can make all this go away, if you sign the title away to me!”

Cook was on the phone and said, “He’s not going to sign the title to you.”

Dee Dee stated, “Your friend signed the contract. He gave me the keys. We don’t have to release this car to him ever.”

“That’s not a valid contract. You made him sign that under the pretension that Toyota called him and it was free. Also, it’s under duress.”

“You don’t know anything! You’re fucking up your friend’s life. You do whatever you want. I’m a private business. We don’t need to follow the [tow] laws. You can’t do anything about it! I have your keys. I have your car. We work with the police. We work with the CHP. Either sign the title or pay us the $1,700 in cash.

“Also, if your car is in here for 30 days, I automatically get the car. And I can still bill your friend $30,000.”

Arambula started breaking down in tears. Arambula, depressed and shocked, left the tow yard and called Cook and said, “I started college again. I’m trying to get back off my feet. And now this. They’re going to take all the financial aid money I just got.” Arambula is 23, Hispanic, community college student, professional boxer, and boxing coach and personal fitness instructor.

Cook calmed Arambula down and said, “Let me try to take care of it.” 

Although CHP Gives the Impression Cyrus Towing was an Authorized Police Tow, Altadena CHP Refuses to Lift a Finger to Help – Calling it a Civil Matter.

Cook then called the Altadena, CHP, instead, and talked to the watch commander, Sergeant Axl and requested that he help get Arambula’s car back given the facts. Cook explained that Voss had made it seem like Cyrus Tow was an official police authorized tow, when he ordered them to take both cars off the freeway. 

Eric Voss

Axl said, “Oh – there is this fraud going on. But this sounds like a civil thing.”

Axl called back 15 minutes later and said, “This is a civil matter and not criminal fraud. There’s nothing we could do because he signed the contract.”

Cook explained that Arambula signed only because they told them Toyota called, and it would be free. Also Arambula signed right after the accident, when he was in shock. 

Cook then wanted to talk to Axl’s boss. Axl replied, “I’m the highest up you can go. You can’t talk to the lieutenant here. This is a civil matter. Take it to court.”

Cook immediately emailed the facts to CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee, who said he would have someone investigate it. (This has been followed through.)

Angel looked up the company and saw a number of negative Yelp reviews that stated that Cyrus Tow finds crashed cars; tells the victims that Tesla or Toyota called them through its SOS program; and then charges $6,000 in towing fees, when they try to get it out.”

Cook, Arambula, and Angel Conduct a Probe and Discover that Cyrus Tow Preys on Car Crash Victims and Commits Potential Insurance Fraud.

First, Arambula asked Dee Dee to lower the price, because he only had $1,300 and didn’t have enough money. Dee Dee says, “$1,700 is probably the lowest I can do [for three days of tow].” Dee Dee calls the owner, Amir M. Eftekhari, who was enjoying himself at a wedding. 

Eftekhari said, “No.”

Arambula then had to borrow $500 from Angel.

After paying Dee Dee the $1,700, Arambula apologized to Dee Dee that Cook called the CHP on her. Arambula also added, “My friend is really destroying my life. I’m sorry I involved him.”

 She said, “Yes, he is.” 

Then, Arambula asked how Dee Dee’s business worked and what he could do to get reimbursed.

On video, Dee Dee spends about 15 minutes talking about how she complies with the law and follows best practice. She even says if they don’t comply by the law, “We can lose our business and possibly go to jail. . . . That’s why I’m trying to be as transparent as possible.”

She then explains why her tow rates are so high. Dee Dee says, “However, the minute that the driver puts any of his equipment on your car, you have to pay the drop fee. If he pulls his bed up, once that tow and the hook happens, you’re responsible for the charge.”

But here, Arambula didn’t consent to the driver putting his tow hook on his car. Dee Dee charged Arambula $295 to attach a hook to his car.

Arambula objects and says, “But your driver said this would be free of charge.”

Dee Dee responds, “90 percent of the time it is.” She then clarifies that free of charge means the insurance actually pays for it.

She adds: “We have to be very careful. We can’t just go and grab [any car.] If I did that, and you don’t have insurance at all, guess who’s assed out? Me! 

"Not just you, but me too! I have bills to pay too. I have a family to feed too. If I don’t have a business I can’t do that. So, I’m not going to risk my business.”

Dee Dee blames Arambula for not filing a claim immediately with both insurance companies. She says, “Had this been notified day one, they could’ve immediately picked up this vehicle at this price.”

She then tells Arambula, (who was the car crash victim), “You need to file a claim immediately. [Tell them] Hey, it was my fault. . . . Then they’ll work with me and these are the charges.”

Dee Dee maintains that Arambula still needs to file his claim and tell her the claim number. She says, “I let them know what the tow bill was. . . . All of this is going to be a numbers game.”

In total, Dee Dee talks about an insurance claim 24 times in the video recording.

Dee Dee Admits CHP Officer Voss Calls Her Regarding His Crashed Prius; Kickback Suspected.  

Dee Dee explains to Arambula that they don’t officially work with the CHP, because they can’t get the high rates and they don’t have enough drivers and tow trucks. But as a private towing company, she says: “We can charge up the higher rates. That’s how we make our money.” (In other words, working unofficially with the CHP is the more lucrative and smarter way.)

Then Arambula asked Dee Dee, “So mine was in the Altadena CHP. So he’s [Eric Voss] the one, who contacted the guy who picked up my towing truck?”

Dee Dee answers, “Mmmm hmmm. Yeah. That’s how that works. . . . There’s many different ways these calls can come over.” 

(Voss is also well networked in the CHP. According to the Altadena CHP Instagram, Voss has two other brothers working for the CHP: Kyle and Lucas.)

Another victim of Cyrus Tow

Cyrus Tow Appears to Have a Relationship with Stanton LA County Sheriffs to Enable their Scheme.

Before Arambula and Angel leave, they film another elderly woman victim attempting to retrieve her vehicle. The victim called Los Angeles County Sheriff. The obese woman sheriff smirks at the victim and tells her nothing could be done. The victim puts her head down and walks away sad with the gleeful Dee Dee.Arambula’s incident is not isolated. Five other victims have complained on Yelp.

When asked about how he feels after the tow, Aramabula said, “This is just wrong. These people are profiting from our pain. We could’ve been seriously hurt. Handicapped or dead. It makes me so mad.”

California Highway Patrol Informs Predatory Tow Truck Company of Collisions to Defraud Crash Victims and Insurance Companies

Paul Cook’s neck smashed against the back of the car headrest and snapped forward again, after he felt a hard and sudden jolt hit the back of the red Toyota Prius. Thump! Two seconds later, the back Chevy hit the Prius a second time. Pshhhhh. The car started swerving. Shocked, Elder Arambula, the driver, lost control of the steering wheel. The car spun out and flung into the freeway guardrail, crashing into it. Arambula’s chest and shoulder smashed into the dash; his head hit the headrest as well. The front airbags didn’t deploy. Cook prayed, “Please don’t let another car hit us.” No other car hit the two.

The car was mangled into the metal guardrail. Arambula shook Cook and shouted, “Are you ok?!”

Dazed; Cook replied: “I don’t know.”

Cook opened the door and stepped out. He felt dizzy and confused and noticed the car was almost dangling off the edge of the shoulder of the freeway. Seeing it, Cook processed the thought: What if the car flew off the edge? He took in a deep breath.

Date: September 26, 204. Time: 7:47 PM. Location: 210 Freeway West. Pasadena. Near Sierra Madre Exit. 

Orange emergency lights were blinking. Cook looked at the two crashed cars, the broken doors, the broken plastic shattered on the asphalt, and the disabled and cracked cars. He tried to make sense of what happened.

* * *

A driver from Cyrus Tow spotted the red Prius. About 20 minutes later, Officer Eric Voss from the California Highway Patrol came out. He ordered Cyrus Tow to tow the two cars off the freeway. Arambula did not consent to have his car hooked up.

Voss was not supposed to authorize this tow, as the CHP has an official tow list of authorized tow trucks.

Cyrus Tow told Arambula that Toyota's SOS system went off and the tow and impound would be free. All he had to do was sign the papers and give the keys.

Four days later, the tow bill came out to $1,700. Cyrus Tow charged $625 for the tow, $295 for the tow hook up fee, $150 for a forklift fee, $250 for an after hour fee, and $150 for a “hazmat/clean up” fee.

Read more on how Cyrus Tow's illegal operation runs.

* * *

"Dee Dee", the business manager from Cyrus Tow, refused to accept credit card. Arambula paid the tow bill with all his college financial aid money. Arambula was broke.

At the time, Arambula asked Dee Dee, “So mine was in the Altadena CHP. So he’s [Eric Voss] the one, who contacted the guy who picked up my towing truck?”

Dee Dee answers, “Mmmm hmmm. Yeah. That’s how that works. . . . There’s many different ways these calls can come over.”

(Voss is also well networked in the CHP. According to the Altadena CHP Instagram, Voss has two other brothers working for the CHP: Kyle and Lucas.) According to Transparent California, as of 2023, Voss made $274,052.51. This includes benefits.

Arambula’s incident is not isolated. Five other victims have complained to Yelp.

Cook is requesting that if anyone can help with a donation to Arambula. Arambula needs a rental car or a to purchase a cheap car, while this accident is being investigated. All donations are tax dedudicble through Cook’s nonprofit corporation, a 501(c)(3) - Plousivous En Pistei (Greek for Wealthy in Faith) and will be spent accountably and appropriately.

When asked about how he feels after the tow, Aramabula said, “This is just wrong. These people are profiting from our pain. We could’ve been seriously hurt. Handicapped or dead. It makes me so mad.”