CLARKSBURG, WV – Dallas Lewis, 55, and Charles Bonner, 34, both of West Virginia, have been convicted of mail fraud in a high-stakes insurance scam that spanned over two years. Lewis, from Clarksburg, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, while Bonner, from Morgantown, admitted to one count of mail fraud.
According to Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen, Lewis orchestrated a scheme involving staged motor vehicle accidents in Taylor, Harrison, and Marion Counties between January 2012 and August 2014. He conspired with others to file false insurance claims, receiving settlements that included his share of each fraudulent filing.
Bonner was involved in a staged accident in Harrison County in January 2012. He falsely claimed injuries and filed a $101,500 insurance claim. Additionally, he admitted to procuring a $46,500 insurance settlement check in someone else’s name.
Both Lewis and Bonner face severe penalties, including up to twenty years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The sentences will be determined by the seriousness of their crimes and any prior criminal histories.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Cogar, with investigations conducted by the West Virginia Insurance Commission Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Judge Michael John Aloi presided over the hearing where the convictions were announced.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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