4/7/2008
CHARLESTON, WV -- West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, Jane L. Cline, announced today that two Kanawha County women were sentenced on Friday, April 4, 2008 by the Honorable Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Duke Bloom on insurance fraud related charges.
Tina Marie Browning age 40 of Eskdale, was indicted on one (1) felony count each of forgery and uttering and fraudulent schemes in January of 2008. Ms. Browning later plead guilty to one (1) count of uttering a forged document on February 28, 2008.
Along with Ms. Browning, Linda Foster age 60, also of Eskdale, was indicted on one (1) felony count of fraudulent schemes. Ms. Foster also plead guilty to the charge on February 28, 2008.
Ms. Browning and Ms. Foster wrote checks on an account and continued to receive workers' compensation benefits meant for another individual who passed away but had lived at the same residence. Both individuals were sentenced to one (1) to ten (10) years in a state penitentiary, then had their sentences suspended and each were placed on four (4) years probation, ordered each to pay $7,500 in restitution to the Workers' Compensation Old Fund and perform extensive community service during the duration of their probation.
Commissioner Cline stated "We will continue to seek out those individuals who are committing worker's compensation insurance fraud. We are also ensuring that disability benefits are paid to those individuals deserving of such, but the system cannot afford to continue to pay out monies to those who are not".
Contact Information
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