Arkansas Insurance Department Outlines January Fraud Convictions

Ted Hamilton entered a plea of guilty to one count of insurance fraud (D felony) and was given a suspended imposition of sentence for 6 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

On September 26, 2011, Hamilton was shopping inside a Save-A-Lot grocery store. Video from the store shows Hamilton scraping ice from inside a store freezer and placing in on the floor outside the freezer. After placing the ice on the floor, he pretended to slip and fall. He was then taken via ambulance to a nearby hospital where he stated he slipped on water on the store’s floor. Hamilton then retained an attorney and filed a claim with the store’s insurer, claiming the store was negligent in leaving water on the floor.

Christine Gausden entered a negotiated plea of guilty in Pulaski County Circuit Court to one count of attempted insurance fraud. She was sentenced to one year probation and payment of a $1,000 fine.

Gausen attempted to have her daughter’s car licensed using a forged insurance card she had created.

Regina McDowell entered a negotiated plea of guilty in Miller County Circuit Court to one count of workers’ compensation fraud (D felony). She was sentenced to three years probation, a $1,000 fine and $150 court costs.

McDowell falsely claimed to have injured her knee while working for the Highway Department. The evidence and witness testimony showed that she had actually injured her knee the night before.

Source: Arkansas Insurance Department