Insurance fraud has hit Pennsylvania hard, with 60 individuals charged in a statewide sweep. Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the charges, which are the result of investigations by the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section.
Among those charged are Jermond Harper, 38, of Pottstown, Montgomery County, who is accused of filing a false theft claim. Harper allegedly claimed that 18 items were stolen from his vehicle and submitted receipts for multiple mink coats and jackets valued at over $43,000 to support his claim. However, an investigation revealed that Harper provided three fake receipts for mink coats totaling more than $20,000.
In another case, Brenda Avellino, 54, of Bloomsburg, Columbia County, is charged with theft by deception and insurance fraud. Avellino allegedly misrepresented prior damage to her vehicle as new damage in an attempt to obtain more than $2,000. An investigation revealed that the damage was never repaired when she purchased the car in 2014, and there were no records of a hail storm on the date she reported the damage.
Shane Valentine, 40, of Washington County, is also charged with theft by deception and insurance fraud. Valentine allegedly filed an auto accident report with his auto insurer, Progressive Insurance, after purchasing auto insurance online. However, an investigation revealed that Valentine was involved in a hit and run accident in Ohio in December 2017, which contradicts the accident report he filed in January 2018.
Attorney General Shapiro stated that “insurance fraud is a serious crime that impacts consumers and policyholders across our Commonwealth. We will aggressively prosecute anyone who breaks the law by providing false information to an insurance company. When people commit insurance fraud, it causes premiums to rise for the folks who do follow the rules. It’s wrong, and we’re taking action to stop it.”
The charges announced today involve some of the most common types of insurance fraud. Since Attorney General Shapiro took office in January 2017, the Office of Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud section has charged 367 persons with insurance fraud cases. The Insurance Fraud Section conducted the statewide sweep during the months of September and October 2018, resulting in the charges against 60 individuals.
The cases are still pending, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, if convicted, they could face significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The Attorney General’s office is committed to combating insurance fraud and protecting consumers in Pennsylvania.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: Pennsylvania AG
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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