A 21-year-old California man pleaded guilty Monday to insurance fraud, admitting he took his parents' car without permission, then reported it stolen when he abandoned the vehicle while eluding Douglas County deputies.

According to reports, Braudilio Alexander Feliz took his parents' car from their Los Altos, Calif., home while they were in the Dominican Republic. He drove the 2008 Nissan Sentra to Lake Tahoe where he was observed speeding by a Douglas County Sheriff's deputy.

Feliz reportedly abandoned the vehicle in a Zephyr Cove neighborhood, then reported it stolen. Deputies recovered the vehicle and subsequently arrested Feliz.

His parents dropped the insurance claim, but Feliz was charged by the Nevada attorney general with felony insurance fraud.

He faces up to four years in prison at his sentencing Feb. 1.

If Feliz has no prior felonies, the state has agreed to recommend probation and two cases pending in justice court will be dismissed.

The incident occurred July 9.

Feliz also is to pay $1,500 restitution to the sheriff's office and $500 to the attorney general's office for their investigations.