Three Individuals Arrested For Insurance Fraud
11/28/2007
CHARLESTON, WV - West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, Jane L. Cline, announced today that three individuals were arrested in Putnam County for alleged insurance fraud. Diana K. Phillips, age 52 of Hurricane, Charles Keith Phillips, age 44 also of Hurricane, and James T. Willis, age 39 of St. Albans, were arrested by Sgt. Timothy Bledsoe of the WV State Police, who is assigned full time to the Offices of Insurance Commissioner's Fraud Unit, and arraigned Monday, November 26, 2007. All three individuals were charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, as well as one misdemeanor charge of witness intimidation, which is related to the criminal investigation.
In addition to the first two charges, Mr. Phillips was also charged separately with one felony count of conspiracy to commit malicious wounding, which is also related to the insurance fraud charges. Mr. Willis was also charged with obtaining a controlled substance under false pretenses due to an investigation by another law enforcement agency. All three individuals are alleged to have conspired to dispose of Ms. Phillip's 2005 KIA minivan by pushing it over a hill on Poplar Fork Road in January of 2007 and then attempting to prevent witnesses from cooperating with the investigation. If convicted, each felony count carries a one-to-ten year sentence in a state penitentiary and up to a $10,000 fine, or both. Each misdemeanor count carries up to a year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine, or both.
Commissioner Cline added, automobile insurance rates are affected by criminal acts such as these and we are committed to investigate and prosecute individuals who try and use insurance as a means of personal profit, while other consumers pay for their acts.
Contact Information
Jason L. Butcher
304-558-6279 x1237