Mississippi Deputy Accused of Cheating Insurer Out of Nearly $13K

A Mississippi sheriff’s deputy and another man face felony charges after authorities said they cheated an insurance company by falsely claiming an off-road vehicle was stolen.

Federal prosecutors said Friday that Wilkinson County Deputy Christopher James and another resident of the southwestern Mississippi county, Kelvin Tolliver, have been indicted on conspiracy and wire fraud charges.

James also works as a guard at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

An indictment says the two men conspired to create documents showing Tolliver’s all-terrain vehicle had been stolen so he would no longer have to repay a bank loan. The indictment says Tolliver submitted a claim to Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co., which paid $12,800.

James’ attorney said Friday he had not read the indictment. Court records showed no attorney for Tolliver.