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AUGUST 2023

Woman Charged for Allegedly Filing Fraudulent Flood Damage Claim

On August 23, 2023, Michelle Hamilton was arrested in Montgomery County. According to the criminal complaint, on May 28, 2021, Hamilton purchased liability automobile insurance from GEICO Insurance for her 2011 Mercedes Benz E Class. The complaint stated that meteorological records revealed that on September 1, 2021, Hurricane Ida caused approximately five inches of rain to fall in the vicinity of Hamilton’s residence. On September 2, 2021, Hamilton allegedly contacted GEICO and filed a claim for flood damage to her Mercedes. According to the complaint, GEICO advised Hamilton that because her policy did not include comprehensive coverage, the damage to her vehicle would not be covered. On the following day, Hamilton allegedly went online and purchased full coverage, including comprehensive and collision, for her Mercedes from Nationwide Insurance. During the application process, Hamilton allegedly advised the insurer that the Lexus was in fine condition. According to the complaint, on September 4, 2021, Hamilton contacted Nationwide and reported that she had discovered water on the driver’s side floor of her Lexus and that the car would not start. During an investigation of the claim, Hamilton allegedly failed to mention that she had previously filed a claim for flood damage with GEICO and made statements which contradicted information that she had previously provided to GEICO. According to the complaint, investigators subsequently confronted Hamilton about her prior claim and relevant rainfall information. Hamilton asked to withdraw her claim. Hamilton was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3), one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3), one count of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility (F3), and one count of Insurance Fraud (M1).
On August 30, 2023, Kyle Carpenter surrendered for arrest in Montgomery County. According to the criminal complaint, Carpenter’s vehicle policy with Progressive Insurance lapsed due to nonpayment. On December 6, 2022, at approximately 3:40 PM, Carpenter allegedly was operating his 2020 Kia Forte when it struck a deer. The complaint stated that a passing motorist called 911, and officers from the Hilltown Police Department responded to the accident scene at 3:52 PM. According to the complaint, insurance company documentation revealed that Carpenter contacted Progressive and began applying for a new policy at 3:43 PM, just four minutes after the accident was reported to 911. The complaint further stated that at 4:00 PM, police contacted Jerry’s Auto Body to have the Kia towed. According to the complaint, Carpenter subsequently filed a claim with Progressive for the damage to his vehicle. On December 9, 2022, during a recorded phone conversation with a Progressive representative, Carpenter allegedly claimed that his Kia had no preexisting damage prior to the loss. On August 11, 2023, investigators conducted a recorded interview with Carpenter, at which time they allegedly asked him to explain why documentation indicated that Carpenter began applying for insurance coverage several minutes after his accident was reported to 911. Carpenter allegedly claimed that because he was previously insured by Progressive, he believed that he had a grace period in which to pay his insurance premium. Progressive denied the claim. Carpenter was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3), one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3), one count of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility (F3), and one count of Insurance Fraud (M1).
 
On August 29, 2023, Juan Rozier was arrested in Montgomery County. According to the criminal complaint, Rozier’s Liberty Mutual automobile insurance policy was canceled for non-payment on June 27, 2022, at 12:01 AM. On July 15, 2022, at 5:00 AM, Rozier allegedly used Liberty Mutual’s online reporting system to claim that he discovered that the passenger side of his 2016 Dodge Charger had been damaged while the car was parked and unattended. The complaint stated that Liberty Mutual reviewed Rozier’s policy and notified him that due to non-payment of the policy premium, his vehicle coverage was not in effect at the time of the loss. The complaint further stated that investigators learned that, on July 15, Rozier used the internet to obtain a new policy from Progressive Insurance for his 2016 Dodge Charger. During a recorded conversation with Progressive, Rozier allegedly stated that the Charger had not been in any accidents, and had only minor prior damage to the rear passenger door, which occurred when his child was getting out of the car’s back seat and the door struck a pole. According to the complaint, Progressive informed Rozier that the insurer was aware that Rozier had previously filed a claim with Liberty Mutual for damage to the rear passenger door of his Charger. Progressive denied the claim. Rozier was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3), one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3), one count of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility (F3), and one count of Application Fraud (M1).
 
On August 24, 2023, Sana Aijaz was arrested in Centre County. According to the criminal complaint, Aijaz was driving her 2016 Lexus IS 300 in mid-November 2022, when the vehicle struck a curb and was disabled. On November 15, 2022, Aijaz allegedly contacted Progressive Insurance and reported that her Lexus was damaged when it struck a curb. According to the complaint, Progressive denied the claim, because Aijaz’s policy did not include comprehensive or collision coverage at that time. The complaint further stated that on November 22, 2022, Aijaz added comprehensive and collision coverage to her Progressive policy, with an effective date of November 27, 2022. On November 30, Aijaz allegedly filed a new claim with Progressive, in which she stated that after her additional coverage was in effect, the Lexus struck a curb and was disabled. According to the complaint, investigators obtained copies of records which revealed the damaged Lexus was towed from the accident scene on November 15, 2022, prior to the effective date of her additional coverage, and subsequently was towed to a body shop on December 6, 2022. Progressive ultimately denied this claim. Aijaz was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3) and one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3).
 
On August 23, 2023, Antoinette Richardson was arrested in Dauphin County. According to the criminal complaint, on March 4, 2022, First Acceptance Insurance canceled the policy covering Richardson’s 2012 Chrysler 300, after Richardson failed to make the required premium payment. On May 17, 2022, Richardson allegedly called First Acceptance and obtained new coverage for her Chrysler and another vehicle. During the policy application process, Richardson allegedly did not inform First Acceptance of any preexisting vehicle damage. The complaint stated that on June 1, Richardson called First Acceptance and reported that while she was driving her Chrysler on May 24, 2022, the car became involved in a three-vehicle, chain reaction accident. However, according to the complaint, the owners of the other two involved vehicles claimed that their vehicles had been parked on the street, when they were struck and damaged by a hit-and-run vehicle on May 14, 2022. According to the complaint, one of the vehicle owners contacted police when he discovered the damage to his vehicle on May 15. That vehicle owner allegedly completed an incident report, which indicated that the hit-and-run had occurred on May 14. The complaint stated that First Acceptance determined that the damage occurred prior to the inception of Richardson’s policy and denied the claims. Richardson was charged with two counts of Insurance Fraud (F3) and one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3).
 
On August 10, 2023, Desirah Ritchie was arrested in Jefferson County. According to the criminal complaint, the investigation revealed that Ritchie had been operating her 2018 Dodge Journey when it struck a deer on March 10, 2023. The complaint stated that at the time, Ritchie’s Progressive Insurance policy for the Dodge covered liability only. On March 16, Ritchie allegedly added comprehensive, collision coverage, and rental reimbursement to her policy. The complaint stated that on March 28, Ritchie contacted Progressive and reported that her vehicle was damaged when it struck a deer on March 26. In a subsequent recorded call, Ritchie allegedly told Progressive that the accident happened on March 19, 2023. According to the complaint, investigators discovered that Ritchie’s damaged Dodge was towed from the accident scene to a body shop on March 10, before Ritchie added comprehensive and collision coverage to her policy. During a subsequent interview with investigators, Ritchie allegedly admitted that she made misleading statements to Progressive, in an effort to have the insurer cover her vehicle repair costs and rental car expenses. Progressive denied the claim. Ritchie was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3) and one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3).
 
(No Photo) On August 10, 2023, Shania McCrommon was arrested in Cambria County. According to the criminal complaint, on October 29, 2021, McCrommon’s GEICO Insurance policy for her 2018 Ford Eco Sport was canceled for non-payment of premium. On December 26, 2021, at approximately 6:28 PM, McCrommon allegedly made an online payment to GEICO and reinstated her coverage. The complaint stated that later that evening, McCrommon submitted an online claim to GEICO, in which she reported that her Eco Sport had struck a parked 2018 Honda Accord. During a recorded telephone conversation with a GEICO representative, McCrommon allegedly stated that the accident occurred after she had reinstated her policy. According to the complaint, the owner of the Honda submitted photos of the damage to the insurer. Investigators allegedly examined the photo metadata and determined that the crash had occurred at approximately 6:19 PM on December 26, just minutes before McCrommon reinstated her vehicle coverage. According to the complaint, McCrommon admitted to investigators that she reinstated her coverage after the accident occurred, and that she had misrepresented the time of the loss to GEICO. McCrommon’s claim was denied. McCrommon was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3) and one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3).
 
On August 7, 2023, Katherina Thompson was arrested in Westmoreland County. According to the criminal complaint, on November 22, 2022, Thompson purchased an auto policy from Progressive Insurance for her 2021 Kia Forte. On December 19, 2022, Thompson allegedly contacted Progressive and reported that she had been driving her Kia when it struck a deer at 6:15 AM on December 18. According to the complaint, Thompson gave a recorded statement to Progressive, in which she claimed that her Kia’s front bumper, fender, headlight, and part of the front driver’s side door were damaged by the deer strike. Thompson allegedly told the insurer that she had taken photos of the damage on December 19, 2022. When she provided copies of the pictures to Progressive, investigators noted that the photos showed evidence of a deer strike. However, Progressive representatives learned that Thompson’s Kia was previously involved in an accident on November 22, 2022, with a vehicle that was insured by Erie Insurance. Investigators reviewed insurance photos of the damage from the November 22 accident, and allegedly noted that the photos depicted right front quarter panel and door area damage to Thompson’s vehicle. Investigators compared photos from the November accident with the photos that Thompson had provided in support of her December claim, and allegedly determined that Kia’s front driver’s side was damaged prior to the deer strike. When investigators confronted Thompson, she allegedly admitted that her Kia had been involved in an accident in November 2022, and that the deer strike damage occurred prior to the inception of her Progressive policy. Progressive denied her claim. Thompson was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3) and one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3).
 
On August 4, 2023, Yessenia Santos was arrested in Schuylkill County. According to the criminal complaint, on October 22, 2021, at 1:16 AM, Santos added collision coverage and emergency roadside service to her GEICO Insurance policy, which covered her 2005 Nissan Titan. The policy change became effective on October 23, 2021. On October 24, Santos allegedly filed a claim with GEICO via the internet, indicating that her vehicle had been involved in an accident at approximately 2:25 PM that day. According to the complaint, Santos reported that she had been driving her Nissan when it left the roadway and went into a ditch. A subsequent investigation allegedly revealed that Santos had filed two prior claims with GEICO for what appeared to have been the same incident. According to the complaint, prior claim file photos showed the Titan in the middle of the road, on its side, with emergency personnel around. A police incident report allegedly stated that the crash had occurred at 10:45 PM on October 21, 2021, which was before Santos added the coverage to her GEICO policy. Further, the police report allegedly revealed that someone other than Santos had been driving the Titan when the loss occurred. Geico denied the claim. Santos was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3).
 
On August 3, 2023, William Parks was arrested in Fayette County. According to the criminal complaint, on March 2, 2023, Parks’ Progressive Insurance policy covering his 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander was canceled. On March 3, at 1:20 PM, Parks allegedly called Progressive and reinstated his canceled policy. During the call, Parks allegedly told the insurer that he had had no losses during the cancellation period. According to the complaint, Parks contacted Progressive on March 13 and advised that his Outlander had been involved in a two-vehicle collision, which occurred at approximately 5:20 PM on March 3, 2023. Parks allegedly told the insurer that his son’s friend had been driving the Outlander at the time. Parks also allegedly maintained that he was at work when the crash occurred and was not at the accident scene. However, according to the complaint, the driver of the other involved vehicle and a State Trooper maintained that Parks was present at the crash scene. Further, the complaint stated that according to the police crash report, a State Trooper was dispatched to the scene at 11:59 AM on March 3, 2023, which was prior to the reinstatement of Parks’ canceled coverage. Progressive denied the claim. Parks was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3), one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3), and one count of Insurance Fraud (M1).
 
On August 2, 2023, Lanae Robinson was arrested in Dauphin County. According to the criminal complaint, on April 4, 2022, Robinson obtained an automobile policy from Esurance Insurance Company (which since has been acquired by NGIC), covering her 2006 Infiniti M35. On April 6, Robinson allegedly reported to the insurer that her parked vehicle had been struck by an unknown vehicle, and was not safe to drive. The complaint stated that Robinson told the insurer that her Infiniti was towed to an auto body shop, and that police had been notified. Robinson allegedly emailed photos of the vehicle damage to NGIC. Investigators reviewed the photos and the accompanying photo metadata. According to the complaint, the metadata revealed that the photos were taken on April 14, 2022. Further, the photos allegedly confirmed that the vehicle had not been towed to a body shop, as Robinson had claimed. The complaint stated that on May 21, 2022, Robinson used NGIC’s web portal to file a second claim for hit-and-run damage to her 2006 Infiniti. She allegedly submitted a set of photographs in support of this claim. According to the complaint, an NGIC representative compared the photos and information from both claims and determined that the damage to the Infinity was identical. NGIC denied both claims. Robinson was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3), one count of Theft by Deception (F3), and one count of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility (F3).
 
On August 1, 2023, Rebecca Albino was arrested in Lancaster County. According to the criminal complaint, on July 1, 2021, Albino renewed the Erie Insurance Company automobile policy covering her 2008 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck. The policy allegedly listed Albino as the only insured driver; Albino’s husband was listed as an excluded driver. On November 20, 2021, Albino allegedly reported to Erie Insurance that she had been driving her pickup truck when it was involved in a three-vehicle accident. During a recorded interview with an Erie representative, Albino allegedly stated that she had been driving home from work when the accident occurred. Erie Insurance issued a settlement check to Albino in the amount of $5,130.43 on November 23, 2021. According to the complaint, Erie stopped payment on the check on December 6, 2021, after the other involved drivers advised that a male had been operating Albino’s pickup truck at the time of the accident. The two other drivers allegedly provided investigators with photos that they had taken at the accident scene, which clearly depicted a male driver of the pickup truck. Erie denied the claim. Albino was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3) and one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3).
 
On August 1, 2023, Amir Williams was arrested in Blair County. According to the criminal complaint, on November 1, 2022, Williams purchased a State Farm Insurance Company automobile policy for his 2017 Hyundai Elantra. On November 2, Williams allegedly reported to State Farm that his Hyundai struck a deer earlier in the day, which damaged the vehicle’s engine compartment. However, an investigation revealed that Williams allegedly had the damaged Hyundai towed to a dealership for repairs on October 28, which was several days before he purchased coverage from State Farm. According to the complaint, when Williams was interviewed by investigators, he admitted that he had misrepresented the date of the deer accident in an effort to get State Farm to cover the cost of repairing his vehicle. State Farm denied the claim. Williams was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud (F3) and one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (F3).
 
On August 30, 2023, Tyler Hulbert was sentenced in Westmoreland County after entering a negotiated plea to one count of Insurance Fraud (F3). On February 10, 2022, the USAA automobile insurance policy covering Hulbert’s 2017 Chevrolet Colorado was canceled for non-payment of the policy premium. On August 21, 2022, at approximately 7:00 AM, Hulbert was driving his Chevrolet Colorado when it left the road, struck several fence posts, then plunged over an embankment into a large ditch. Later that same day, Hulbert obtained a USAA automobile insurance policy, which became effective on August 22, 2022, at 12:01 AM. At 9:43 AM on August 23, 2022, Hulbert filed an online claim with USAA, in which he reported that the accident involving his Chevy had occurred at approximately 7:00 AM on August 22. During a recorded call with USAA, Hulbert verified the aforementioned date and time of the loss. However, investigators learned that State Police and a tow company had been called to the accident scene at 10:48 AM on August 21, which was before Hulbert’s coverage took effect. Further, the tow company’s invoice and a Carfax damage / accident report indicated that the crash had occurred on August 21. Hulbert was sentenced to serve 2-12 months of incarceration and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service. He was ordered to pay all prosecution costs.
 
On August 29, 2023, Erik Vargo was sentenced in Cambria County after entering a negotiated plea to one count of Insurance Fraud (F3). Vargo’s 2009 Suzuki XL-7 was involved in an accident at approximately 6:45 AM on November 26, 2018. Vargo called the General Insurance Company at approximately 2:26 PM that same day and obtained a new policy for the Suzuki XL-7. Vargo filed a claim with the General on December 3, 2018, and stated that while he was operating his 2009 Suzuki on November 28, the vehicle was involved in an accident. The General completed an estimate for repairs and paid Vargo $2,789.00 for damages to his vehicle. On July 31, 2019, Progressive Insurance Company informed the General that a vehicle driven by Vargo had rear-ended a vehicle insured by Progressive, at approximately 6:42 AM on November 26, 2018. The Progressive insured driver had taken a photo of Vargo’s Pennsylvania driver’s license at the accident scene. The day after the accident, Vargo called the other driver and asked him to lie about the time of the crash. The other driver then called Progressive and informed the insurer of the events that had transpired. Vargo was sentenced to serve 48 months of probation, which is to run consecutive to an unrelated sentence of 23 months of probation. Vargo was further ordered to complete 50 hours of community service, to pay all prosecution costs, to pay restitution in the amount of $2,789.00, and to pay $500.00 in policy deductibles.
 
On August 28, 2023, Yolanda Williams was sentenced in Montgomery County after entering a negotiated plea to one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (M1). On December 23, 2021. Williams reported to the Pottstown Police Department that her 2013 Hyundai Veloster had been stolen between the hours of 8:30 PM on December 22, 2021, and 12:49 PM the following day. Police found Williams’ vehicle a short time later and had it towed. On December 24, 2021, at 1:32 PM, Williams purchased full coverage for the Veloster from Progressive Insurance Company. At 12:34 PM on December 27, 2021, Williams contacted Progressive and filed a claim, in which she stated that the vehicle had struck a deer at 5:30 PM on Christmas Day. Williams provided Progressive with photographs of the damage. However, the insurer reviewed the metadata from the photos and found that the pictures were taken at 3:04 PM on December 24, 2021. Investigators confirmed that Williams had signed tow company documents on December 23, 2021, at 2:35 PM, and found the unrepaired Veloster parked in the tow company’s yard on June 24, 2022. Williams admitted that her car was not insured at the time it was stolen. Williams was sentenced to serve 11 ½ to 23 months of incarceration at Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
 
On August 25, 2023, Ronald Johns was sentenced in Montgomery County after entering a negotiated plea to one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (M1). On September 12, 2020, Johns’ 2010 Acura TL was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Philadelphia at 2:30 AM. At 3:30 PM that same day, Johns contacted NJM Insurance and reported that his vehicle had been stolen after he had parked it on a street near his home in Philadelphia. Johns told NJM that when he returned to his home, Philadelphia police officers informed him that the Acura had been involved in a traffic accident earlier that morning. An investigation revealed that Johns had been driving his Acura when it struck another vehicle. Witnesses claimed that Johns fled the scene of the accident on foot. Johns was sentenced to serve one year of probation and ordered to pay prosecution costs.
 
On August 23, 2023, Darrell Hamm was sentenced in Adams County after entering a negotiated plea to one count of Insurance Fraud (M1), one count of Criminal Conspiracy (M1), and one count of Bad Checks (M1). Hamm purchased stand-alone health care policies from Highmark under the Affordable Care Act. Between January 2020 and March 2022, Hamm made a total of thirty-eight premium payments to Highmark, all of which were returned by the bank due to insufficient funds, or because Hamm’s accounts had been closed. Highmark processed and paid the medical claims for Hamm, which totaled approximately $223,307.08. The aforementioned amount included claim payments totaling $112,988.82 for invalid insurance, prescription drug claim payments totaling $264.92, and $110,052.34 in unpaid premiums. Highmark mailed correspondence to Hamm on multiple occasions over the two-year period, but never received any response. Hamm was sentenced to serve five years of probation, with all three counts to run concurrently, and was ordered to pay joint restitution in the amount of $113,254.74.
 
On August 3, 2023, Tanna Murray was sentenced in Philadelphia County after entering a negotiated plea to one count of Criminal Attempt / Theft by Deception (M1). On July 26, 2022, at 10:55 AM, Murray called Progressive Insurance and reported that the front bumper of her 2017 Nissan Rogue had been damaged while it was parked overnight. The Progressive representative pointed out that Murray’s policy had a $2,000 collision deductible. Murray then told the representative that she would not be filing a claim at that time. On July 28, Murray contacted Progressive and reduced her deductible from $2,000 to $500, effective August 2, 2022. On August 5, at 10:30 AM, Murray called Progressive and claimed that she had just discovered damage to the front bumper of her Rogue. When an investigator subsequently interviewed Murray, Murray insisted that she had discovered the damage on August 5. She denied that her vehicle had been involved in any prior incidents, accidents, or losses, or that her Rogue had been repaired during the previous three months. When an investigator confronted Murray about her June 26 call to Progressive, Murray denied making the call. Murray was sentenced to serve two years of probation.
 
Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD)
During the month of August, 8 additional defendant received Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD).

Anti-Fraud Compliance
Reporting of Insurance Fraud to Law Enforcement Agency

Pennsylvania Bulletin Notice 2016-04 (issued April 30, 2016) reminded insurers of their obligations to report suspected arson or insurance fraud to law enforcement agencies within the Commonwealth. The bulletin also announced a decision by the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance to allow licensees to satisfy their reporting obligation when they electronically submit reports of suspected fraud to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
 
On July 6, 2017, Pennsylvania began participating in this online service which enables member companies to electronically forward reports of suspected fraud to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section or other appropriate law enforcement agencies at the same time the companies report suspicious claims to the NICB. NOTE: The NICB is not a law enforcement agency. Therefore, a licensee cannot satisfy the fraud reporting requirement by submitting a non-electronic (paper) referral only to the NICB.
 
Important: When utilizing electronic filing through NICB, users should take careful note of the provided instructions regarding the “Party” to a claim.  Information entered about a Party will only be transmitted to law enforcement if users select one of two options: “This Party was subject to an SIU investigation” or “This Party was subject to an enforcement action.”  Some users have missed this notation about individual Party data and consequently have submitted incomplete information to law enforcement.

This newsletter was produced by the PA Office of Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section and edited by Senior Deputy Attorney General John T. Dickinson.

Copyright © 2018 Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General 
All rights reserved.


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