South Dakota Deputy Pleads Guilty to Theft in Insurance Fraud Case

January 13, 2012

A Douglas County, South Dakota sheriff’s deputy has pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft by deception for submitting fraudulent applications to an insurer.

The Mitchell Daily Republic reports that Rob Hotchkiss of Delmont entered his plea on Jan. 11. It relates to a 2008 incident in which he submitted fraudulent insurance applications to obtain commissions while working for an insurance company in Sioux Falls.

The Daily Republic reported that state officials alleged Hotchkiss created a fictitious company with fictitious workers for which he filed the insurance applications.

Prosecutors dropped three additional grand theft by deception counts in exchange for his plea.

A sentencing date has not been set.

Hotchkiss faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in a state penitentiary and a $20,000 fine.

Topics Fraud

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