Nev. Officials Convict Several for Fraud Scams

The Nevada Department of Justice’s Insurance Fraud Control Unit, (“IFCU”) obtained convictions recently against the following individuals for their actions in defrauding Nevada insurance companies:

Brandon Jeffery Forth, pled guilty to one count of Insurance Fraud – Attempt to Make a False Claim for Insurance Benefits, a gross misdemeanor, and was sentenced on May 24, 2005, in the Eighth Judicial District Court.

Forth was involved in a single motor vehicle accident while uninsured and reportedly attempted to procure insurance after the fact and make a claim on the newly acquired insurance. Forth received probation, on a suspended 6-month sentence, but must pay Progressive Insurance Company $4,434.40 in restitution and $1,000 in Investigative Costs.

Adrian Gonzalez pled guilty to one felony count of Unlawful Practice of Law and was sentenced on May 26, 2005, in the Eighth Judicial District Court.

Gonzalez, originally charged with 5 felony counts of Insurance Fraud and a felony count of Unlawful Practice of Law, reportedly posed as a personal injury lawyer and obtained settlements for his “clients.” He also obtained a Lawyer’s Lien with a Chiropractor and failed to pay him any money after he’d settled with the various insurance companies.

He was given probation not to exceed 5 years and his suspended sentence was 1 to 4 years in the Nevada Department of Corrections.

Gonzalez must pay all victims involved an amount in excess of $42,000 in restitution. He must also pay the IFCU $1,000 for Investigative Costs.