Hawaii Auto Insurance Fraud Investigation Unit Convictions ... - Hawaii Reporter
03.01.09
HONOLULU – The Insurance Fraud Investigation Unit of the State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Fraud Unit) experienced a 61 percent increase in criminal convictions for motor vehicle insurance fraud in 2008 over the previous year.
Fraud Unit convictions increased from 18 in 2006 to 34 in 2007 and 55 in 2008. Convictions for felony charges may result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years and/or a fine of $25,000.
Examples of insurance fraud cases in 2008 include charges involving a Big Island resident, a body shop owner, and a career criminal.
Beverly Medeiros, an Educational Assistant in Pahoa, Hawai‘i was investigated for five separate cases. Medeiros alleged that she was unable to work due to injuries from an auto accident. Medeiros created fictitious employers and utilized a post office box address to intercept all correspondence. Medeiros defrauded three different insurance companies. In January 2008, Medeiros was sentenced to 30 days in jail. Medeiros
Source: Hawaii Reporter, HI