Fraud News: Arson, Auto Fraud Ring Sentencing, False Billing Scam

A Camanche, Iowa, woman has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for carrying out insurance fraud involving a fire that destroyed her boyfriend’s vacant house.

Federal prosecutors for Iowa say 42-year-old Beth Galloway was sentenced in Cedar Rapids’ federal court. She was also ordered to make $152,875 in restitution.

Galloway was convicted last month by a jury of mail fraud, using fire to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors say Galloway twice drove a minor to James Plower’s vacant home in Martelle, Iowa, to attempt to set fire to it. Plower eventually deliberately set fire to the house and then collected more than $66,000 from his insurance company to cover the loss.

Plower is serving a 13-year prison term for his part.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces the guilty plea and sentencing of a Sumter man who was part of a large insurance fraud ring. On April 12, 2018, Jair Hakeem Golden pleaded guilty as charged to Presenting a False Claim for Payment Greater than $10,000. Judge R. Ferrell Cothran gave him a Youthful Offender Act sentence, not to exceed 6 years. This sentence was suspended to 5 years of probation. A special condition of probation is that he must pay $16,564.12 in restitution. Probation may terminate upon the payment of restitution.

Golden was approached by a co-defendant/cousin, Demarkus Lane. Lane asked Golden if he wanted to make some money. All Lane needed Golden to do was use his name to cash a check. On February 6, 2017, Demarkus Lane staged a car accident on Bagnal Dr. and Oswego Hwy in Sumter County. Lane went for treatment at the hospital, but he told the facility his name was Jair Golden. Subsequently, the hospital sent the bills to Golden. After receiving the bills, the two men went to the Geico claims office and presented a claim for the amount of $16,564.12. Geico wrote Golden a check, and he signed for and cashed it.

Lane is also charged in this case with Presenting a False Claim for Payment Greater than $10,000, Making a False Statement or Representation $10,000-$50,000, and Forgery Greater than $10,000. He also has 3 additional counts of Presenting a False Claim for Payment and Forgery pending. There are more than 30 other co-defendants in this insurance fraud ring.

Jurors have found the estranged father of French train hero Spencer Stone guilty of wire and mail fraud.

Federal prosecutors in Sacramento said 59-year-old Brian Stone was found guilty of 13 charges Tuesday after a four-day trial.

Prosecutors say he devised a scheme to falsely bill an insurance company for cleanup costs at an auto parts supply business damaged by fire in 2012.

The disbarred attorney faces up to 20 years in prison at his July sentencing.

Defense attorney John Manning did not return telephone and email messages.

The case comes amid renewed interest in the 2015 terrorist attack thwarted by Stone and two childhood friends. The three star as themselves in a Clint Eastwood film, “The 15:17 to Paris.”

Stone has said he has no relationship with his father.