Ohio Pair Indicted for Alleged Fraud, Money Laundering Tallying $200,000

The Coalition Against Consumer Fraud and the Ohio Department of Insurance have reported that two former dental office employees, Alberta Fay Clark and Tammie Creamer, have been indicted for alleged insurance fraud, theft and money laundering totaling approximately $200,000. Clark was indicted on a total of 22 counts and faces 111 years in prison. Creamer was indicted on a total of 20 counts and faces 82 years in prison.

Ohio Insurance Director Womer Benjamin congratulated the department’s investigative team, the Green County Prosecutor’s office and the Xenia Police Department for pursuing appropriate penalites in the case.

The Department opened its investigation in 2005 after receiving a complaint about Creamer from an insurance company, later learning of Clark’s involvement. Both Clark and Creamer are former longtime employees of the dental practice of Clarence Lincoln Thomas III, DDS, located in Xenia, Ohio.

Creamer received free dental work from her employer, but from 2002 to 2005 submitted numerous false claims to her insurer totaling more than $30,000. Clark submitted a $3,000 fraudulent claim in 2002, also for free work performed by the dental office.

The investigation also determined that from 2002 to 2005 Creamer and Clark used various methods to allegedly embezzle nearly $170,000 from the practice. Creamer would purchase business supplies from Wal-Mart but she also made personal purchases, writing checks from the business account to Wal-Mart. Clark prepared numerous “extra” paychecks for herself and Creamer from 2002 to 2005. Due to statute of limitations issues, investigators began reviewing financial records from January 1, 2001 onward.

Consumers and insurance professionals are advised to report suspected insurance fraud by contacting the Ohio Insurance Department’s fraud hotline at 1-800-686-1527.

Sources: Coatlition Against Insurance Fraud; Ohio Department of Insurance

Topics Fraud Ohio