CHARLESTON, WV - West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, Jane L. Cline, announced today that a Berkeley County Grand Jury indicted two men for presenting fraudulent certificates of insurance as true documents. Richard E. Thompson, Jr., age 37 of Martinsburg, was indicted on February 19, 2008 on two (2) felony counts of uttering for allegedly presenting fraudulent certificates of insurance for an automobile on two (2) separate occasions.
In a separate case, Patrick H. Williams, Jr., age 34 of Falling Waters, was also indicted on two (2) felony counts of uttering for allegedly presenting fraudulent certificates of insurance for an automobile on two (2) separate occasions. If convicted, both men face a one (1) to ten (10) year prison sentence and a fine of up to $10,000 on each felony count.
Commissioner Cline stated, "Any citizen operating an automobile in West Virginia is required to have a minimum amount of liability of insurance. Those citizens who pay their insurance premiums are saddled with the additional costs of drivers who do not carry liability insurance as mandated by law. Those individuals who attempt to forge certificates of insurance and present them as true documents will face prosecution and a criminal record."
People can call 1-800-779-6853 to report fraud or go online at
http://www.wvinsurance.gov/
and click on the fraud link to fill out a questionnaire.