View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/midwest/2021/05/17/614676.htm
A Michigan man has been ordered to pay restitution of nearly $775,000 for an alleged insurance scam, the state insurance department says.
Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) Fraud Investigation Unit, in conjunction with the Ogemaw County Sheriff’s Office, said Darrell Lee Hardenburgh, of West Branch, also was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years’ probation for receiving and concealing stolen property in excess of $20,000.
As part of a plea deal, Hardenburgh was not charged with several additional counts of insurance fraud but was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $746,529.21 to Hastings Mutual Insurance Company and $28,339.60 to The Hanover Insurance Group.
He was also ordered to turn over all medical equipment used in the scheme to law enforcement.
According to DIFS, after an auto accident that allegedly left him wheelchair bound, Hardenburgh was accused of fraudulently receiving attendant care and medical equipment provided by his insurance company. As a result of information gathered by the Ogemaw County Sheriff’s Office during an investigation into the theft of a backhoe, Hastings Mutual Insurance Company filed an insurance fraud complaint with DIFS against Hardenburgh.
A joint investigation by DIFS Fraud Investigation Unit the County Sheriff’s Office determined that Hardenburgh could in fact walk. At that time, Hardenburgh was facing charges for the backhoe theft and a plea deal was reached that included restitution for the alleged insurance fraud.
Source: Michigan DIFS