Insurance Fraud Doesn’t Pay in Nevada

The Nevada Department of Justice, Insurance Fraud Control Unit (IFCU), obtained final convictions against the following individuals for their actions in reportedly defrauding insurance companies operating in the State of Nevada and against Nevada policyholders:

Donald Lee Palmer, Jr. was sentenced on April 5, 2005, by Judge Jackie Glass in Clark County, for Felony Insurance Fraud.

Palmer was sentenced to a term of 18-45 months in prison. Palmer conspired to defraud Liberty Mutual Insurance Company on a false auto theft claim. Palmer was the reported torch man who intentionally destroyed an insured’s vehicle, at the request of the insured, to enable the insured to get out of an “upside down” loan situation.

Palmer’s co-conspirators have all been bound-over to District Court on related charges. Palmer is now housed at the Southern Desert Correctional Center.

Christopher William Kaiser was sentenced on April 6, 2005, by Judge John McGroarty in Clark County, for Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud.

Kaiser was fined $2,000 and ordered to pay $925 in other fees and costs. Kaiser reportedly made a false auto theft claim to his insurance company when in reality he conspired with another to dispose of his vehicle. Kaiser’s co-conspirator was a confidential informant cooperating with the Nevada IFCU. No restitution was required for any damage to the vehicle as it was safely in the
custody of the IFCU at the time Kaiser made his false claim.

Ty Weaver was sentenced on April 12, 2005, by Judge Maddox in Carson City for Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud. The judge sentenced him to one year in jail because he reportedly had a prior record. He was also ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution.

Weaver claimed in November of 2002 that his 2001 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup slipped off the road and went into a ditch. Weaver actually damaged his vehicle while four wheeling reportedly under the influence of drugs.

Robert Samaniego was sentenced on April 20, 2005, by Judge Stephen Kosach after pleading guilty to Felony Insurance Fraud in Washoe County.

The judge sentenced him to 32 months in prison, but because of lack of prior criminal history, suspended Samaniego’s sentence and placed him on probation for 5 years and ordered him to pay $19,308.98 in restitution.

Samaniego claimed to American Family Insurance that his 1999 Chevy Tahoe had been stolen. In fact he had reportedly placed his vehicle in a rented storage shed.

It was his failure to pay rent on the storage shed that led to his arrest; when the owners of the storage unit took possession of the contents for failure to pay, it became known that he had reported it stolen.