W. Va. Woman Sentenced to Prison on Insurance Fraud Charges

West Virginai state officials convicted a Morgan County woman on three felony counts of insurance fraud, and she is currently serving time behind bars.

Found guilty in December 2006, Deborah K. Wildberger solicited Michael Hovermale, who rented a home from Wildberger in 1999, to burn that residence in order to collect on the insurance policy.

Hovermale pleaded guilty in 2006 to conspiracy and felony arson and testified against Wildberger at her trial. The court convicted Wildberger on each of the three felony counts of insurance fraud, conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretenses.

“The Offices of the Insurance Commissioner’s Fraud Division will continue to aggressively investigate and seek prosecution on any type of insurance fraud,” Insurance Commissioner, Jane L. Cline said.

The state sentenced Wildberger on June 28 to one to five years in prison for insurance fraud, one to five years on the conspiracy charge and one to 10 years for obtaining money under false pretenses, all of which will run concurrently. The court also ordered Wildberger to pay more than $81,000 restitution to State Farm Property and Casualty Insurance Company.

Prosecution and conviction in this case was a joint effort with the Morgan County Prosecutor’s office, West Virginia State Police Sergeant David Bober and the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner’s Fraud Division.

Source: West Virginia Department of Insurance