Ark. Insurance Scam Ring Convicted

Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Julie Benafield Bowman announced that on Oct. 27, 2006, Curtis Moore of Jonesboro entered a negotiated plea of guilty to one count of Class B felony Theft of Property for his involvement in an insurance scam ring that bilked insurance companies of more than $352,962.00.

The Arkansas Insurance Department reported that Moore, Michael Gates, Brenton Gibson, and Casiprin Gibson had filed forged paper work with insurance companies for injuries that did not happen. Michael Gates had submitted claims to one company for the surgical removal of an eye on two different occasions.

Arkansas Insurance Department Criminal Investigation Division Investigator Bill Bryan successfully investigated all four individuals. His investigation provided the information necessary for the Prosecutor’s Office in Craighead County to convict all four men that resulted in a total of $234,176.67 in restitution.

It is estimated that $80 to $120 billion is lost to insurance fraud every year. That loss adds about $1,000 per household to insurance costs. The Arkansas Insurance Department has seven investigators who are dedicated to investigating insurance fraud. If you know or suspect of an instance of insurance fraud, you can contact the division at their toll free hotline (866) 660-0888. To learn more about the Criminal Investigation Division, visit their Web site at www.fightfraud.arkansas.gov.

Source: Arkansas Insurance Department