Pennsylvania D.A. sends Almost 2 Dozen to Jail

In this story, we’re going to talk about insurance fraud; but in a complete new way: a good way. With so many criminals out there, it’s nice to be able to tell you about the people fighting against them.

And as for now, we’re looking at DelawareCounty in Pennsylvania.

According to the Daily Times, they are looking to continue getting funding for three positions in a special fraud crime unit. On February 22^nd, their District Attorney, Jack Whelan, reported that they have had 22 insurance fraud arrests in the last 15 months. Those felony crimes add up to over $273,000 in potential losses. The alleged crimes range from burglary to contractor scams and workers’ compensation fraud.

“Insurance fraud costs consumers and businesses thousands per year,” Whelan said in a prepared release.  “The huge financial burden that insurance fraud imposes on the citizens of DelawareCounty through higher insurance premiums and the increased costs of goods and services is unacceptable.”

All together, the defendants have been charged with over 100 felony and misdemeanor counts, including insurance fraud, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and criminal use of a communication facility. If they are convicted, the defendants will face up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine, on top of whatever restitution they may be ordered to pay.

In DelawareCounty over the last 10 years, the total potential loss to victims of insurance fraud is over $4 million.

Since the year 2000, the D.A.’s office has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority. Last year, they received $252,000, which paid the salaries for a detective and a prosecutor, as well as an analyst for the county’s Insurance Fraud Unit. Next month, the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division will be submitting its grant application for 2013 funding.

If you’d like the long list of those arrested, then read on. Karen Byrd-Rowley, 53; Stavros Zografidis, 45; Rasheda Hackett, 36; Sheila Miller, 65; Kevin Miller, 58; Anthony Marinelli, 47; Heather Hartley, 29; Alexander Bamisaye, 50; Marjorie Mairena, 40; Julio Galindo, 26; Christina Famiano, 29; Suresh Malepati, 35; Franklin Fitzgerald, 26; Wanda Flynn, 55; Lonnie Johnson, 48; Chad Masemer, 33; Anthony Cipriano, 25; Rasheme Williams, 31; Sumika Johnson, 35; Jack Calhoun, 31; Shawnita Presbery, 25; and finally Carolyn Pugh, 39.

Since 2001, the county’s fraud unit has received over $2.8 million in court-ordered restitution. In the pat year alone, they collected $364,839.

Insurance fraud referrals come from a wide variety of sources –including insurance carriers, businesses, fellow workers, concerned citizens and local law enforcement agencies. Continued…