Ohioans Charged with Defrauding Insurer of More than $300K

Three people in Ohio have been charged with insurance fraud totaling more than $330,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio

Kifiyun Daniels of Akron, and Jessie Banks of Barberton, and Jody Foster of Ravenna were charged with filing fraudulent claims against Asurion Insurance.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that Daniels made fraudulent claims to Asurion Insurance for the replacement of approximately 261 cellular phones between August 2015 and December 2017. Asurion sustained a loss of approximately $130,717, according to the information.

Banks allegedly made fraudulent claims to Asurion Insurance for the replacement of approximately 179 cellular phones between November 2015 and May 2017. Asurion sustained a loss of approximately $110,174, according to federal officials.

Separately, Foster was charged with one count of mail fraud for defrauding Asurion out of $94,000.

Foster allegedly defrauded Asurion Insurance between 2012 and 2016 through the submission of fraudulent insurance claims to obtain money and property from Asurion. He was said to have paid individuals, known and unknown, to purchase new cellular telephones and enroll in cellular telephones service plans that included insurance coverage with multiple cellular telephone service providers. Then these individuals provided the newly purchased cellular telephones to Foster, according to the criminal charges.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office pointed out that the charges are not evidence of guilt and that the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio

Topics USA Carriers Fraud Ohio