Arkansas Regulators: In Separate Cases 2 Plead Guilty to Auto Insurance Fraud
Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr announced two recent guilty pleas resulting from separate criminal investigations of insurance fraud.
On May 2, Becky Brand, 34, of Lonoke entered a guilty plea to one count of Criminal Attempt — a Class A Misdemeanor — for presenting a fake insurance card to the Arkansas Department of Motor Vehicles in order to register her vehicle last November. She was sentenced to one year of probation, a $1,000 fine, and $345 in court costs.
In a separate case, 63-year-old Troy Ward of Texarkana entered a guilty plea on April 25 to one count of Theft of Property (C Felony).
In July 2014, Ward filed a police report claiming that his 2008 Cadillac Escalade had been stolen the day before. Ward also filed an affidavit with his insurance company about the alleged theft, eventually receiving a payment of $14,035.13.
Ward’s vehicle was subsequently recovered from an impound lot in Wenden, Ariz., by an Arizona State Trooper. The owner of the lot said Ward left the car at the lot to be fixed, but never came back for it.
Ward was sentenced to five years of probation, a $1,500 fine, court costs, and ordered to pay restitution.
Source: Arkansas Department of Insurance