Former LAPD officer arrested for kidnapping while being investigated for insurance fraud

A former Los Angeles Police Department officers was arrested on kidnapping allegations just months after he was previously arrested for insurance fraud. 

Eric "Ben" Halem was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of kidnapping for ransom, LAPD officials confirmed with CBS News Los Angeles. At the time, they did not release additional details on his arrest.

On Monday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office shared more information on the incident, which happened in late-2024.

Halem and three other men were taken into custody in connection with a "violent home invasion and kidnapping for ransom in Koreatown last December," the DA's Office said. It happened on Dec. 28, 2024 at around 2:30 a.m., when Halem and another man entered an apartment, placed two people in handcuffs and transferred money from their cryptocurrency accounts. They are also said to have stolen cash and jewelry before fleeing. 

Halem most recently served with the department as a reserve officer, but also worked as a full-time officer in the past. He is currently being held without bail on charges of kidnapping for ransom, first-degree residential burglary and home invasion robbery in concert, the DA said. 

The DA also announced charges against three other men in connection with the Koreatown home invasion. They have been identified as Jurupa Valley resident Luis Banuelos, 28, Attleboro, Massachusetts man Pierre Louis, 26, and Los Angeles man Mishael Mann, 20. 

Each of the co-defendants faces counts of kidnapping for ransom, first-degree residential robbery, and home invasion robbery in concert. Mann is being held on no bail, while Louis and Banuelos are each being held on $1.3 million bail, prosecutors said. 

If convicted as charged, Halem and the three other men face life in state prison, said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. 

"Whether you once wore a badge and served in law enforcement, or not, if you take part in violent crimes, you will be held fully accountable,"said a statement from Hochman's office. "This office will pursue justice for victims without fear or favor. We will prosecute those who use violence and intimidation to profit from the suffering of others and ensure they answer for their criminal actions."

Halem was also arrested in March for allegedly staging photos of a crash to file a phony insurance claim. He and his brother, Jacob, are accused of creating a fake crash site after a customer of his luxury car rental service crashed a Bentley Continental GT in Jan. of 2023, police said in May. 

After his initial insurance claim was denied, Halem then filed a claim under his personal insurance and allegedly said that his brother crashed the car three days after the first crash occurred. Investigators say that the duo staged the car on a tow truck and provided false statements to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies who were dispatched to the scene of the alleged fake crash. 

Halem was released from custody at that time after posting bond. 

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on the matter.