S.C. State Police Arrest 17 Accused of Staging Crashes; Ringleader Remains at Large

South Carolina authorities have charged 18 people in what’s being called a major insurance fraud ring that staged vehicle collisions and filed false claims over a one-year period.

All but one of the subjects were booked at the Sumter Lee Regional Detention Center.

The alleged fraud took place from August 2020 through October 2021 and netted a total payout from insurers of $93,700, the South Carolina Department of Insurance reported Wednesday.

The alleged ringleader is Tyburious Marquis Heyward, who orchestrated some of the claims while he was in prison in the state until his release in April 2021, the DOI said. Heyward is the only member of the fraud ring that had not yet been apprehended as of Thursday.

The other 17 defendants have been charged with presenting false claims, sometimes using fake or altered medical documents and wage-loss records, authorities said.

The arrested were Tyler Anderson, Davarius Brown, Ar’Terrani General, Aminah Hart, Michael Leneau, Shalii Leneau, Alexis Mosley, Brad Nelson, Marquis Pressley, Calvin Porcher, Deljuan Shaw, Oshzhane Simon, Marquise Slater, Shamaria Vanburen, Shy Miek Washington, and Shyrem Williams. All were booked at the Sumter Lee Regional Detention Center.

The case will be prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Joshua Underwood, director of the Insurance Fraud Division at the DOI.