Missouri Man, Woman Sentenced in $1.1M Insurance Fraud Scheme
Missouri Man, Woman Sentenced in $1.1M Insurance Fraud Scheme
Two Columbia, Missouri residents were sentenced in federal court on March 6 for their roles in a $1.1 million insurance fraud scheme that involved false claims of injuries suffered in faked car accidents.
M. L.G.S., 37, and L.M.B., 37, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge R. K. S. was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay $166,363 in restitution to his victims. Brown was sentenced to four years in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay $72,069 in restitution to her victims.
On April 6, 2023, S. pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud. On Feb. 14, 2023, B. pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
This case stems from a long investigation by the FBI into co-defendant L.C.L., 36, of Kansas City, Mo. (formerly of Columbia), for a series of automobile accidents throughout Missouri. All but one of those accidents were staged. The conspiracy defrauded six insurance companies of a total of $1,234,581 from June 2017 to July 2020.
L. recruited friends, acquittances, family, and friends of friends to participate in the staged accidents. Conspirators went to various medical providers, claiming injuries from the staged accidents and requesting various testing, such a MRIs, CT scans, and/or X-rays.
Conspirators then submitted false claims to insurance companies that they had suffered bodily injuries and that they would be personally liable for any medical bills related to insurance claims. Conspirators, some of whom were involved in multiple incidents, received thousands of dollars, and in some cases tens of thousands of dollars, based on these false claims. However, none of the conspirators made any payments to medical providers and instead used the funds for their personal expenses.
B. admitted she was involved in three incidents and received a total of $44,269 in insurance payments. Two of the accidents were in Boone County, Mo., and one of the accidents was in Kansas City, Mo.
S. admitted that he and co-defendant T.C.J., 60, of I., Mo., who is L.’s mother, participated in a staged automobile accident in Kansas City, Mo. S. F. issued a $50,000 check to S. and a $50,000 check to J.. None of the medical bills totaling $188,920 at Research Medical Center (where S. was treated) and St. Luke’s East Hospital (where J. was treated) have been paid.
S. and B. are among 16 defendants who have been sentenced in this case.
L. pleaded guilty on June 8, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. L. also pleaded guilty in a separate and unrelated case to commit wire fraud. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
J. pleaded guilty on April 6, 2023, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and awaits sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. M. M.. It was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Kaynak: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/midwest/2024/03/08/764024.ht