Career Criminal Sentenced on More Insurance Fraud Charges in South Carolina

A South Carolina man with a long criminal history has pleaded guilty to multiple insurance fraud and identity fraud schemes that had netted him more than $139,000.

Marcus Blair, of Florence, South Carolina, has been convicted 18 times previously and was using a contraband cellphone in prison to arrange further fraudulent acts when state investigators began zeroing in on him, the South Carolina Department of Insurance said in a bulletin.

After his release from prison, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division kept him under surveillance and obtained a search warrant of his residence. The investigation found hundreds of fake checks, fake identification cards and computer and other records that showed Blair had tried to obtain more than $574,000.

He had successfully received a quarter of that, authorities said.

He was indicted earlier this year and charged with 50 crimes, DOI said. Blair pleaded guilty this week and a judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

The nature of the insurance fraud schemes was not explained by DOI. Court records were unavailable.