A father is charged with defrauding insurance companies by intentionally driving his two severely autistic children off a Los Angeles pier to collect the proceeds of accidental death policies he'd taken out.

Ali F. Elmezayen, 44, drove his children, ages 8 and 13, and his partner, who was a passenger in the car, into the ocean in April 2015. He is said to have bought accidental death insurance policies amounting to $6 million, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Both children were unable to escape from the vehicle and drowned. According to Elmezayen's insurance companies, he was paid $260,000 following their deaths.

Elmezayen has not been charged with murder.

Ali F. Elmezayen, 44, drove his children, ages 8 and 13, and his partner who was a passenger in the car, in to the ocean in April 2015. He is said to have bought 'accidental death insurance policies amounting to $6 million'

Elmezayen who is from Egypt and has no legal status in the United States is said to have paid $6,000 a year to maintain the accidental death insurance policies he had purchased on his own, his children and his partner's lives, in 2012 and 2013, despite earning less that $30,000 a year.

Prosecutors allege Elmezayen has access to significant financial resources in his native country.

Elmezayen alllegedly called at least two of the insurance companies to confirm they would not investigate claims made two years after the policies were purchased.

Elmezayen is also charged with mail fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for posing as his domestic partner in calls to the insurance companies.

'This case alleges a calculated and cold-hearted scheme to profit off the deaths of two helpless children,' United States Attorney Nick Hanna said. 'The alleged conduct shocks the conscience, and we will use every tool available to us to ensure that justice is done.'

On April 9, 2015, two years and 12 days after he bought the last of his insurance policies, Elmezayen drove his car into the ocean.

Elmezayen was charged with defrauding insurance companies. He is said to have paid $6,000 a year to maintain accidental death insurance policies he had purchased on his own, his children and his partner's lives, in 2012 and 2013

It's reported that Elmezayen's domestic partner, who was a passenger in the car, couldn't swim. She was rescued by a fisherman who witnessed the crash.

Elmezayen was arrested on November 7 by the FBI and charged with defrauding insurance companies.

Magistrate Judge Alka Sagar ruled in a detention hearing Tuesday that Elmezayen is a flight risk and a danger to his now former partner and remaining child.

The court heard how Elmezayen also pays a large insurance premium on their lives. He will remain behind bars until his trial date

If found guilty, Elmezayen would face up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the fraud counts. No murder charges have been filed

Cuauhtemoc Ortega, Elmezayen's federal public defense attorney, told the court he would contest the allegations and said he was 'surprised' there weren't state murder charges filed against his client.

The case wasn't initially prosecuted because of 'insufficient evidence.'

If found guilty, Elmezayen would face up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the fraud counts.