pennsylvania fraud stories

Pennsylvania Fraud Stories

Message from the Executive Director

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Inside this issue:

Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention

Authority

Ralph Burnham

IFPA Executive Director

Public Relations 2

Know the Risks! 3

Snagged by Video Sur-

veillance

3

Tip to Law Enforcement

from Former Employee

Nabs Business Owner

in Alleged Bogus

$10,915.34 Claim

4

Fraudulent Auto Theft

Claim

5

Motor Vehicle Fraud 6

Know the Penalties! 7

Mark Your Calendar! 11

Who to Call 12

Welcome to the September edition of our newsletter. I’m writing this after return-

ing from the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) Con-

ference in Baltimore, MD. Congratulations to Wade Wickre, President, along with

the officers and directors of IASIU for a terrific conference. As I’ve said in the past,

one of the most important aspects of attending a conference is networking and

building relationships. The people whom you meet at a conference can provide

valuable assistance to you, and you to them, as you progress through your career.

This year’s conference provided excellent opportunities for networking.

I mention networking and relationship building because I believe it is one of the

most important aspects in fighting fraud. Collaboration and cooperation among SIUs

and law enforcement is vital in combating insurance fraud in Pennsylvania. One of

the best ways to develop this cooperation is to establish relationships among the SIUs and law enforcement by

attending a local IASIU chapter meeting where SIUs and law enforcement can network prior to and following

the meeting. It is a great opportunity to put a face with a name. Taking place on April 23rd and 24th 2019 at

the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA is the IFPA and IASIU’s annual fraud conference, which will also provide

an excellent opportunity to network with other SIUs and law enforcement.

We are happy to announce that our fall public relations campaign will be ending within the next couple of

weeks. In late August, we began broadcasting our radio commercials on the major radio stations in the Phila-

delphia market. Our campaign has returned to our Know the Risks, Know the Penalties radio tagline.

It’s been a year since we renamed and rebranded our Don’t Be a Weasel campaign. We currently have two

vehicles driving around the Philadelphia area with “Only Weasels Commit Insurance Fraud” wrapped on the

cars. We will be adding more cars before the end of the year.

The Penn State football team is off to a great start this season and are ranked #9 in the country. We are proud

sponsors of Penn State football once again this year. Our radio ads are currently playing throughout the state

during Penn State football games.

As you can see, we are promoting our insurance fraud awareness campaign through numerous types of media

channels. To date, it has been very successful with huge increases in visits to our website and You Tube pages.

Thank you again for all of your efforts in combating insurance fraud in Pennsylvania.

Thomas Donahue

Executive Director

Public Relations

Be on the look-out for our two Weasy Mobiles

driving around Philly & Southeastern PA!

Weasy’s on Facebook too!

https://www.facebook.com/dontbeaweasel/

Visit our website at www.helpstopfraud.org;

Facebook at www.facebook.com/PennIFPA;

and on YouTube!

In Central PA, new billboards are popping up!

Weasy’s on Facebook too!

https://www.facebook.com/dontbeaweasel/

Fraud Stories

The accounts of insurance fraud and insurance-related crimes that follow are drawn from Pennsylvania

law enforcement’s filed criminal complaints, press releases and newsletters. Criminal complaints dock-

eted may be viewed online, using the “OTN” shown in each of the following accounts, through the web

portal of Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System. Individuals shown charged with crimes are to be pre-

sumed innocent until they are proven guilty.

Know the Risks, Know the Penalties

On August 1, 2018, detectives of the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office arrested 33 year old

Timothy R. Carlson of New Cumberland, PA and charged him with Insurance Fraud, Theft by Deception

and False Reports. According to the Criminal Complaint, it is alleged that Carlson failed to disclose prior

damage to his 2002 Chevrolet Suburban when applying for a Progressive Insurance auto policy. It is further

alleged that when Carlson filed a vandalism claim with Progressive, he misrepresented that the damage to the

vehicle occurred after he obtained the Progressive policy. [OTN: U6125405]

On August 1, 2018, detectives of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division

filed a Criminal Complaint charging 26 year old Joshua M. Boyd of Upland, PA with Insurance Fraud, Theft

by Deception, Theft by Unlawful Taking and Criminal Use of Communication Facility. According to the

complaint, Boyd was injured while working for Kamco Building Supply Corp. when on May 3, 2016, he

dropped a box on his left foot and broke several bones. Boyd began receiving disability benefits at that time

from Zurich American Insurance Company. The complaint states that since Boyd began receiving disability

benefits and claiming to be unable to work, video surveillance footage shows Boyd performing tasks and activ-

ities that are not consistent with an injury that continues to make him unable to work. [OTN: U6118906]

On August 2 and 9, 2018 respectively, Office of Attorney General special agents arrested 35 year old Rebecca

L. Adams of Jamestown, NY and 26 year old Tyler J. Welling of Marysville, PA. Each defendant was charged

with two counts of Insurance Fraud and one count each of Attempted Theft by Deception and Conspiracy.

According to the Criminal Complaints, on April 30, 2016, at 1:52 PM, Welling purchased a liability only

automobile insurance policy from the Progressive Insurance Company for a 1999 Saab and subsequently

that same day at 3:20 PM added comprehensive coverage. On July 30, 2016 at 8:30 PM, Welling and Adams

reportedly filed a claim with Progressive stating that earlier that day, at approximately 4:00 PM, Welling’s

Saab caught on fire. According to the complaints, it is alleged that the fire occurred prior to Welling obtain-

ing comprehensive coverage and that both Welling and Adams gave statements to Progressive and misrepre-

sented that the fire occurred after Welling purchased comprehensive coverage. Progressive denied the $1,213

claim. [OTN: U6127100, U6126584]

On August 2, 2018, detectives of the Allegheny County Police Department filed a Criminal Complaint charg-

ing 49 year old Rodney K. Brooks of Penn Hills, PA with Insurance Fraud. According to the complaint,

Brooks had a renter’s insurance policy with Nationwide Insurance and on January 11, 2018, Brooks contact-

ed Nationwide to report that a pipe had burst in the basement of his residence and that many electronics and

other items were ruined. In support of his claim, Brooks provided Nationwide with photos, a list of damaged

items which totaled $3,470 and a statement from a company showing that Brooks’ electronics were inspected

and determined to be beyond repair. According to the complaint, a Nationwide claims representative at-

tempted to verify the statement from the company listed on the electronics’ damage report and learned that

the company never performed any services for Brooks. The complaint states that Brooks later admitted that

the documentation he provided to Nationwide in support of his damage claim was falsified. [OTN:

G8147834]

http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets.aspx



ing 71 year old John R. Lisi of Pittsburgh, PA with Insurance Fraud. According to the complaint, Lisi contact-

ed Nationwide Insurance on May 19, 2018 to report that he had been involved in an auto accident while on

his way to pick someone up. It is alleged that Lisi was not forthcoming initially when filing an accident claim

that he was driving for Uber when the accident occurred. Lisi’s policy did not include coverage for damages

that occurred while Lisi was driving the vehicle for Uber. [OTN: G8147893]

On August 3, 2018, detectives of the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office filed a Criminal Com-

plaint charging 56 year old Timothy T. Meyers of Reedsville, PA with Insurance Fraud and Theft by Decep-

tion. According to the complaint, on April 6, 2017, Meyers, owner of Helping Hand Up, submitted a clam to

Erie Insurance claiming that some $10,915.34 in frozen food had thawed when a refrigeration truck ran out

of fuel and the food had to be discarded. However, according to the complaint, Erie received information

from a former employee of Meyers who reportedly stated that Meyers had inflated the purported damaged

food prices and sold it to Helping Hand customers and further that the replacement food had never been

purchased because much of the food Meyers claimed was ruined and discarded had not actually been dam-

aged. [OTN: U6128474]


ing 35 year old Jerry J. Tyson of Homestead, PA with two counts of Insurance Fraud. According to the com-

plaint, Tyson obtained a renter’s insurance policy with State Farm Insurance Company which became effec-

tive on June 1, 2018. Tyson contacted State Farm on June 6, 2018 to file a claim for damage he claimed oc-

curred from a fire that took place at his residence on June 5, 2018. Reportedly, an investigation revealed that

the fire occurred on May 21, 2018, eight days prior to Tyson obtaining the State Farm renter’s policy and that

Tyson had not disclosed the fire when applying for the policy. [OTN: G8152922]

On August 7, 2018, detectives of the York County District Attorney’s Office filed a Criminal Complaint

charging 47 year old Alisha M. Smith of York, PA with two counts of Insurance Fraud. According to the com-

plaint, it is alleged that Smith was not forthcoming as to having been the person who was operating her vehi-

cle when it was involved in an accident; however, Smith was reportedly the person cited. The complaint addi-

tionally alleges that when Smith applied for a Donegal Insurance auto policy, she failed to disclose that the

vehicle would be used for Uber and that she had several moving violations in the past five years. [OTN:

U6140400]

On August 8, 2018, Office of Attorney General special agents arrested 37 year old Kristin S. Williams of Phil-

adelphia, PA and charged her with Insurance Fraud, Theft by Deception and Perjury. According to the Crimi-

nal Complaint, Williams had claimed to Knightbrook Insurance Company that she sustained injuries as the

result of being in a parked vehicle when it was struck by a bus. However, witnesses reportedly stated that the

vehicle the bus struck was unoccupied at the time of the accident and that Williams approached one witness

and allegedly asked him to lie and say that she was in the parked vehicle when it was struck so she could file a

personal injury claim. [OTN: U1331945]

On August 8, 2018, detectives of the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office filed a Criminal Complaint

charging 43 year old Leeann Macaluso of Nesquehoning, PA with two counts of Insurance Fraud. According

to the complaint, the defendant’s Progressive Insurance auto policy canceled for nonpayment, and it is al-

leged that Macaluso was involved in an auto accident during that time. The complaint states that Macaluso

Fraud Stories (Continued)



contacted Progressive to have her policy reinstated and when filing the accident claim, allegedly misrepresent-

ed that the accident occurred after she obtained the policy. [OTN: X1978572]

On August 8, 2018, detectives of the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office filed a Criminal Com-

plaint charging 24 year old Jessica A. Yost of Boiling Springs, PA with two counts of Insurance Fraud. Ac-

cording to the complaint, Yost’s Progressive Insurance auto policy lapsed on March 12, 2018. Yost was re-

portedly involved in an accident on March 28, 2018 and allegedly contacted Progressive after the accident to

have her policy reinstated and denied any prior accident or damage. It is further alleged that Yost then con-

tacted Progressive after her policy was reinstated to file a $4,970 claim for the accident that occurred prior to

her reinstating her policy and stated the accident occurred afterward. [OTN: U6151456]

On August 9, 2018, detectives of the York County District Attorney’s Office filed a Criminal Complaint

charging 39 year old Crystal L. Noll of Dallastown, PA with Insurance Fraud. According to the complaint, it

is alleged that Noll was not forthcoming as to how her vehicle was damaged when she filed a damage claim

with her insurer, Metropolitan Property & Casualty Insurance Company. According to the complaint, Noll

claimed that her vehicle had been damaged when a motorcycle crossed over into her lane causing her to

strike a curb and damage the tires on the right side, and that the motorcycle struck the left side of her vehicle

which also caused damage. Reportedly, Noll later admitted that some of the damage to her vehicle had oc-

curred prior to the accident due to sideswiping the entrance to her garage. [OTN: U0151712]

On August 9, 2018, detectives of the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office filed a Criminal Complaint

charging 29 year old Katlyn Chookagian of Amityville, PA with Insurance Fraud and Theft by Deception.

According to the complaint, it is alleged that when Chookagian applied for and obtained an auto insurance

policy with AAA Insurance, she stated her primary address and garaging location of her vehicle was that of

Quakertown, PA when in fact, she primarily resides and garages her vehicle in Amityville, NJ. It is further

alleged that when the defendant filed an accident claim with AAA, she maintained that she primarily resided

in Quakertown, PA. [OTN: U6149205]

On August 9, 2018, detectives of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit arrested 35 year

old Jesus R. Delgado of Philadelphia, PA and charged him with Insurance Fraud and Forgery. According to

the Criminal Complaint, it is alleged that Delgado provided a fraudulent insurance financial responsibility

identification card of American Independent Insurance to another individual after being involved in an

accident and that Delgado registered his vehicle by using a fraudulent insurance financial responsibility iden-

tification card. [OTN: U1333135]


old Clarence Draper of Philadelphia, PA and charged him with Insurance Fraud, Forgery and False Reports

to Law Enforcement. According to the Criminal Complaint, Draper reported his vehicle stolen on January

29, 2017 to his insurer, State Farm Insurance Company, and to Philadelphia Police. When filing the claim

with State Farm, he reportedly stated that while he was hospitalized, he let a friend borrow the vehicle to use

for driving for Uber and that the friend never returned the vehicle to him. State Farm paid Draper

$17,011.36 to pay off the loan on the vehicle on March 6, 2017. Insurance fraud detectives subsequently

reviewed the claim files and interviewed Draper at which time Draper admitted to lying to State Farm about

the theft of the vehicle. Draper stated that he and a friend arranged that his friend could drive Draper’s vehi-

cle for Uber and pay Draper for Uber rides. Draper stated he never received any of the money that he and his

friend agreed to and that that is why Draper made the decision to report the vehicle stolen. [OTN:

U1338245]



ing 28 year old Joshua D. Kolesar of Coraopolis, PA with Insurance Fraud. According to the complaint, Kole-

sar was insured by Nationwide Insurance with an auto policy that did not include coverage for any loss that

occurred while Kolesar was using the vehicle for work. On June 7, 2018, Kolesar contacted Nationwide to re-

port that he had been involved in an accident and, when asked if he had been working when the accident oc-

curred, reportedly denied he had been delivering pizzas at the time of the accident. The complaint states that

Kolesar’s employer confirmed he was working when the accident occurred. [OTN: G8160740]


old Jalil Green of Philadelphia, PA and charged him with Insurance Fraud and Forgery. According to the Crim-

inal Complaint, it is alleged that Jalil provided a bogus insurance financial responsibility identification card of

American Independent Insurance to police when he was pulled over and used fraudulent proof of insurance

when registering his vehicle at Daley Auto Tags. [OTN: U1346100]

On August 21, 2018, detectives of the Northeast Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Task Force filed a Criminal

Complaint charging 50 year old Lorraine Pritchett of Taylor, PA with two counts of Insurance Fraud and one

count of Attempted Theft by Deception. According to the complaint, Pritchett insured her 2006 Toyota Sien-

na Van with a liability only policy through Progressive Insurance Company. Pritchett contacted Progressive on

April 22, 2018 to add collision and rental coverage. On May 2, 2018, she submitted a damage claim after she

alleged that her accelerator was stuck and that she struck a wall. According to the complaint, an investigation

revealed that Pritchett’s vehicle was damaged before she obtained additional coverage on her Progressive auto

policy and that Pritchett failed to disclose her vehicle accident and damage on the application for collision and

rental coverage. Progressive denied Pritchett’s $4,903 claim. [OTN: U6189912]

On August 22, 2018, detectives of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division

filed a Criminal Complaint charging 33 year old Ibrahim Kanu of Upper Darby, PA with Insurance Fraud,

Attempted Theft by Deception, Theft by Unlawful Taking and Criminal Use of Communication Facility. Ac-

cording to the complaint, Kanu reportedly obtained two auto insurance policies with Progressive Insurance on

October 9, 2017 and GEICO Secure Insurance Company on October 15, 2017. It is alleged that Kanu then

filed a hit and run damage claim with each company for the same damage. Progressive’s adjuster estimated

repairs to cost $1,609.43 and GEICO’s adjuster estimated $2,050.18 in repairs. [OTN: U6192561]


old Mae Vong of Philadelphia, PA and charged her with Insurance Fraud. According to the Criminal Com-

plaint, it is alleged that Vong filed an injury claim with Selective Insurance Company in which she claimed to

have been a passenger in a vehicle when an accident occurred; however, video surveillance of the accident re-

portedly shows two people in the vehicle, but neither individual is Vong. [OTN: U1349622]


Complaint charging 25 year old Auste M. Graham of Wilkes Barre, PA with two counts of Insurance Fraud

and one count of Attempted Theft by Deception. According to the complaint, it is alleged that when Graham

applied for and obtained an auto insurance policy with Progressive Insurance, he stated that he resided and

garaged his vehicle in Wilkes Barre, PA when in fact, he resided in Brooklyn, NY. Furthermore, Graham had

reportedly submitted a $9,873 auto damage claim and continued to maintain that his address was that of

Wilkes Barre, PA. Progressive denied the claim. [OTN: U6206281]

On August 27, 2018, Office of Attorney General special agents arrested 40 year old Michael P. Vandyke of

Milan, PA and charged him with Insurance Fraud and Theft by Deception. According to the Criminal Com


plaint, it is alleged that as Vandyke was receiving disability benefits from Unum Insurance Company, he

failed to disclose income he was receiving working as a truck driver during the time he had claimed to be una-

ble to work, therefore receiving $12,490 in benefits he was not entitled to receive. [OTN: U6208845]


Complaint charging 28 year old Garrett Williams of Carbondale, PA with Insurance Fraud. According to the

complaint, Williams’ live-in friend was reportedly involved in an auto accident with his 2007 Volvo S60, in-

sured with Esurance Property & Casualty Insurance Company, prior to Williams adding comprehensive,

collision, rental and towing and labor to his existing policy. Williams subsequently added coverage to his exist-

ing policy and then attempted to make a claim for damage resulting from the accident. [OTN: U6216324]

On August 30, 2018, detectives of the Allegheny County Police Department filed a Criminal Complaint

charging 45 year old Kevin G. Peart of Carnegie, PA with Insurance Fraud. According to the complaint, Peart

contacted Progressive Insurance to file a claim for damage to his vehicle which resulted from a deer strike and

it is alleged that Peart misrepresented when the deer strike took place to make it appear he already had his

Progressive policy in place. The complaint states that Peart had made a Facebook post about the incident five

days prior to applying for a policy with Progressive. [OTN: G8173152]

On August 30, 2018, Office of Attorney General special agents arrested 28 year old Daniel C. Powe of Harris-

burg, PA and charged him with Insurance Fraud and Attempted Theft by Deception. According to the Crimi-

nal Complaint, Powe purchased an auto policy with Progressive Insurance and subsequently filed an accident

claim. It is alleged that Powe misrepresented the time of the auto accident to reflect that it occurred after he

obtained insurance when in fact, Powe’s vehicle was reportedly uninsured at the time of the accident. Progres-

sive denied Powe’s $3,057.98 claim. [OTN: U6148391]

On August 6, 2018, from a Negotiated Guilty plea to Insurance Fraud, Nicole L. Laing of Upper Darby, PA

was sentenced to serve 12 months of probation and was ordered to pay $1,124.75 in court costs. On Decem-

ber 12, 2017, detectives of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division filed a

Criminal Complaint charging Laing with Insurance Fraud and Attempted Theft by Unlawful Taking or Dispo-

sition. According to the complaint, Laing reported that she had sustained injuries while a passenger on a

Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) bus that lightly came into contact with a stopped

vehicle. Laing reportedly submitted $10,710 in medical bills to SEPTA for reimbursement; however, SEPTA

subsequently denied the claim. Reportedly, surveillance video footage aboard the bus at the time of the minor

collision reportedly showed that Laing had not been disturbed or thrown about and that Laing had not been

injured as she claimed. [OTN: U5339062]

On August 6, 2018, Terri M. Byrd of Harrisburg, PA pled Guilty to Insurance Fraud and Theft by Deception

and was sentenced to serve 23 months of probation and was ordered to perform 50 hours of community ser-

vice and to pay a $100 civil penalty to the Insurance Fraud Prevention Trust Fund, a $250 fine and court costs

of $767.25. On February 5, 2018, Office of Attorney General special agents arrested Byrd and charged her

with Insurance Fraud and Attempted Theft by Deception. According to the Criminal Complaint, it had been

alleged that Byrd filed a claim for a three vehicle accident in which she was involved while uninsured and

misrepresented that the accident occurred after she had her Progressive Insurance auto policy reinstated.



The Penalties: The following dispositions of cases previously reported on were obtained via the web

portal of Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System.

http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets.aspx

Fraud Stories (Continued) Progressive stopped payment on a check they initially issued to Byrd and subsequently denied Byrd’s claim

after concluding that the accident occurred before her policy was reinstated. [OTN: X1572686]

On August 7, 2018, Renee M. Bruder of Ingram, PA was found Guilty of Insurance Fraud and was sentenced

to serve three years of probation and was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and to pay

$300 in fines and court costs of $3,426.46. On August 21, 2017, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s

Office received a case for prosecution regarding Bruder who had been charged in April 2017 with Insurance

Fraud, Attempted Fraudulent Insurance Clam, False Reports and Operating a Vehicle Without Required

Financial Responsibility. According to the Criminal Complaint, it had been alleged that Bruder obtained an

auto insurance policy with Titan Insurance Company and subsequently filed an accident claim but misrepre-

sented the accident occurred after she obtained the Titan policy. [OTN: G7722842]

On August 9, 2018, from a Negotiated Guilty plea to Insurance Fraud and Impersonating a Public Servant,

Harris Smith of Clifton Heights, PA was sentenced to serve two years of confinement followed by two years of

probation and was ordered to pay $1,248.25 in court costs. On May 1, 2018, detectives of the Delaware

County District Attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division filed a Criminal Complaint charging Smith with

Insurance Fraud, Theft by Deception and Impersonating a Public Servant. According to the complaint, on

June 5, 2017, Smith was operating his 1998 Chevrolet Van Express when he was rear ended by another vehi-

cle. At the time of the accident, police had reportedly not been contacted as Smith identified himself as a

Pennsylvania State Trooper to the individual who was driving the vehicle that rear ended him. Later the same

day, Smith contacted the driver of the other vehicle and reportedly demanded that the individual pay for the

damage to his van and advised his body shop quoted him a price of $2,200 for repairs. Subsequently, the

other driver contacted police to report the accident. According to the complaint, an investigation would re-

veal that Smith was not a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper and further that he did not have a valid driver’s

license as his was suspended from a DUI. In addition, Smith attempted to submit a damage claim to Allstate

Insurance Company for $2,200 and Allstate’s estimator had determined that the damage to Smith’s vehicle

was old damage and not the result of being rear ended by its insured. Lastly, the complaint reflects that Smith

provided Bristol West Insurance Company was his auto insurer; however, investigators reportedly confirmed

with Bristol West that the company did not insure Smith or his vehicle. [OTN: U5809532]

On August 9, 2018, from a Negotiated Guilty plea to Insurance Fraud, Dawn M. Canterbury of Philadelphia,

PA was sentenced to serve three years of probation and was ordered to pay $4,601.25 in restitution and court

costs of $756.25. On April 25, 2018, Office of Attorney General special agents arrested Canterbury and

charged her with Insurance Fraud, Forgery, Theft by Deception and Criminal Use of Communication Facili-

ty. According to the Criminal Complaint, Canterbury obtained a renter’s insurance policy from State Farm

Insurance. On July 29, 2016, Canterbury filed a claim on the policy for water damage to furniture, clothing,

jewelry, electronics and collectibles in her apartment and submitted a $4,601 receipt to State Farm in support

of her claim. The complaint states that State Farm paid Canterbury the $4,601 before discovering that the

receipt was reportedly fraudulent. [OTN: U1209961]

On August 14, 2018, Randall Kidwell of Avella, PA pled Guilty to Attempted Theft by Deception and was

sentenced to serve two years of probation and was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and to

pay $1,937.25 in court costs. On February 5, 2018, Office of Attorney General special agents arrested Kidwell

and charged him with Insurance Fraud and Attempted Theft by Deception. According to the Criminal Com-

plaint, Kidwell reported to Nationwide Insurance that his vehicle incurred front end damage when it struck a

deer at 7:45 PM on July 10, 2017. Nationwide denied the claim as Kidwell’s policy did not include compre-

hensive coverage. Kidwell reportedly added the additional coverage the following day, and on July 16th, con-

tacted Nationwide and reportedly claimed that his vehicle had struck a deer at approximately 10 PM that



evening, which resulted in front end damage to his vehicle. According to the complaint, the investigation

revealed that the damage from Kidwell’s July 16th claim was actually the damage the occurred on July 10th,

before Kidwell added comprehensive and collision coverage to his vehicle policy. [OTN: U5509140]

On August 15, 2018, from a Negotiated Guilty plea to two counts of Insurance Fraud, Bonita Ashley of Phila-

delphia, PA was sentenced to serve three years of probation and was ordered to pay $9,510 in restitution and

court costs of $750. On June 20, 2017, from a referral received from AFLAC Insurance Company, detectives

of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Insurance Fraud Unit arrested Ashley and charged her with 13 counts

of Insurance Fraud, 14 counts of Forgery and one count each of Theft by Deception and Attempted Theft by

Deception. According to the Criminal Complaint, it had been alleged that Ashley filed 22 false insurance

claims for benefits from AFLAC and that she submitted drastically altered documentation in support of those

claims. Reportedly, the altered documentation, some of which the records were doctored from her previous

medical history, had forged dates and stated that Ashley had been treated for ailments that she never received

treatment for. The complaint states that Ashley also made an attempt at filing a claim against Travelers Insur-

ance Company for a tooth she claimed she had broken at a TGI Friday’s when in fact, she had chipped her

tooth prior to that and Travelers denied the claim. [OTN: U0834363]

On August 17, 2018, from a Negotiated Guilty plea to Insurance Fraud and related charges, Travis W. Win-

grove of Dunbar, PA was sentenced to serve five years of probation and was ordered to pay a $250 civil penal-

ty to the Insurance Fraud Prevention Trust Fund, $1,000 in fines, $26,497.73 in restitution and court costs of

$3,562.58. On August 22, 2017, Office of Attorney General special agents arrested Wingrove and charged

him with Insurance Fraud, Theft by Deception and related charges. According to the Criminal Complaint,

Wingrove was employed as a State Farm insurance agent from June 2011 through April 2015, and it had

been alleged that between April 2013 and April 2015, Wingrove failed to remit cash payments, forged life

insurance loan checks, and withdrew money from life insurance policies without authorization. According to

the complaint, eight individuals were victims, four of which made cash payments to Wingrove for their auto

insurance premiums and Wingrove failed to apply to their premium. On one occasion, after taking a cash

payment from his client, and failing to properly apply that payment to the insurance premiums, Wingrove

reportedly took money out of the individual’s life insurance policy without authorization to pay the insurance

premium. It was further alleged that Wingrove stole money from four other clients by making unauthorized

withdrawals from life insurance policies, failing to deposit money into a life insurance policy and forging en-

dorsements to the back of checks. Wingrove’s actions resulted in the theft of approximately $26,247.73.

[OTN: T9615992]

On August 24, 2018, from a Negotiated Guilty plea to Insurance Fraud, Kevin Way of Lancaster, PA was

sentenced to serve six months of probation and was ordered to pay $1,097.25 in court costs. On December 6,

2017, Office of Attorney General special agents arrested Way and charged him with two counts of Insurance

Fraud and one count each of Attempted Theft by Deception and False Reports. According to the Criminal

Complaint, on February 9, 2016, Way reported to Integon Insurance that his vehicle had been stolen. How-

ever, according to the complaint, the investigation revealed that Way’s vehicle had been involved in a crash

several days before Way had obtained coverage on the vehicle, and it had been alleged that Way’s vehicle

hadnot been stolen as he claimed, but rather damaged in an auto accident before the vehicle was insured.

[OTN: T9993410]

On August 28, 2018, Lisa Guzman of Bethlehem, PA pled No Contest to Insurance Fraud and was sentenced

to serve 12 months of confinement and ordered to pay $1,108.45 in court costs. On April 24, 2018, detec-

tives of the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office filed a Criminal Complaint charging Guzman with In-




surance Fraud. According to the complaint, on April 20, 2017, Guzman contacted Progressive Insurance to

report that she had sustained injuries from a two-vehicle crash that occurred on April 1, 2017. However, ac-

cording to the complaint, an Allentown Police Officer had responded to the April 1, 2017 accident and his

accident report lists two occupants of the vehicle in which Guzman claimed she was a passenger – Guzman

was not listed in his report. The investigation revealed that Guzman was not at the scene of the April 1 acci-

dent nor a passenger in either vehicle involved. [OTN: X1742812]

On August 30, 2018, Chelsea L. Howe of Clarks Summit, PA pled Guilty to three counts of Insurance Fraud

and was sentenced to serve two years of probation and was ordered to pay a $500 civil penalty to the Insur-

ance Fraud Prevention Trust Fund, $75 in restitution and court costs of $2,873.25. On October 12, 2017,

from a referral received from Medico Insurance Company and the Office of Attorney General’s Insurance

Fraud Section, detectives of the Northeast Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Task Force filed a Criminal Com-

plaint charging Howe with multiple counts of Insurance Fraud, Forgery, Criminal Use of Communication

Facility, Theft by Unlawful Taking and Forgery, two counts of Identity Theft and one count of Theft by De-

ception. According to the complaint, Howe in her role as an insurance agent, allegedly electronically submit-

ted a total of 76 fraudulent applications to Americo, Medico, Bankers Life and Casualty Insurance Compa-

nies for insurance coverage without the consent, knowledge of approval of multiple individuals named on the

applications, allegedly to receive commissions on each policy. Howe reportedly set up the premiums for poli-

cies to be paid monthly by automatic withdraw from the “applicants’” bank accounts after she reportedly

obtained information from legitimate insurance policies or from prior encounters with the victims when she

was able to secure their banking information. According to the complaint, Howe received some $7,057.03 in

commissions and, in addition, allegedly used the personal banking accounts of some of her victims to pay for

unwanted insurance policies and to pay personal bills in the amount of $2,329.04. [T9804793]

On August 30, 2018, Vonda Little of Pittsburgh, PA pled No Contest to Insurance Fraud and was sentenced

to serve 18 months of probation and was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and to pay court

costs of $2,142. On March 20, 2017, Office of Attorney General special agents arrested Little and charged her

with Insurance Fraud and Attempted Theft by Deception. According to the Criminal Complaint, Little re-

ported to Allstate Insurance that her home had been burglarized on May 18, 2016 and provided Allstate with

photos of a Mac computer and a Prada purse, which she claimed were among the items that had been stolen

from her home. However, according to the complaint, investigators determined that the photos had been

taken after the purported loss. [OTN: G7707000]

On August 31, 2018, Alis Tyson of Manchester, PA pled Guilty to Theft by Deception and was sentenced to

serve two years of probation and was ordered to pay $1,320 in court costs. On August 28, 2017, detectives of

the York County District Attorney’s Office filed a Criminal Complaint charging Tyson with Insurance Fraud,

Theft by Deception and Forgery. According to the complaint, Tyson filed a claim with Combined Insurance

Company of America for total disability due to a bee sting that occurred on August 1, 2016. Reportedly,

based on documentation Tyson submitted to Combined in support of her claim, Combined paid Tyson three

checks totaling $2,858.50; however, the investigation revealed that two of the three documents Tyson provid-

ed in support of her claim were fraudulent. Combined sent Tyson a letter requesting she return $2,445 to

them, but she failed to do so. It was also further determined that Tyson had returned to work but failed to

inform Combined. [OTN: T9652985]

National & State Anti-Fraud Events Offer New Knowledge & New Contacts

*April 23—24, 2019 — PA 2018 Insurance Fraud Conference — Hershey Lodge & Convention

Center, Hershey, PA

National & State Anti-Fraud Events Offer New Knowledge & New Contacts

Who to Call

P A I N S U R A N C E F R A U D

P R E V E N T I O N

A U T H O R I T Y

6 Kacey Court, Ste. 101

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Insurance Fraud

Allegheny County DA’s Office, (412) 461-2328

Allegheny County PD, (412) 473-1254

Attorney General’s Office, (717) 787-0272

Bucks County DA’s Office, (215)348-6344

Cumberland County DA’s Office, (717) 240-7764

Delaware County DA’s Office, (610) 891-4700

Erie Bureau of Police, (814) 870-1258

Lehigh County DA’s Office, (610) 264-8758

NE Insurance Fraud Task Force, (570) 963-5177

Philadelphia DA’s Office, (215) 686-8723

York County DA’s Office, (717) 771-9600 x 329

Arson

Dauphin County DA’s Office, (717) 255-2770

PA State Police-Fire Marshals, (717) 346-4597

Phone: 717-691-1828

Fax: 717-697-1013

www.helpstopfraud.org

IFPA Staff

Thomas Donahue, Executive Director, [email protected]

Joan Dockery,

Associate Executive Director, [email protected]

Christine Cassel, Grants Administrator, [email protected]

pennsylvania fraud stories

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