Eight of nine individuals alleged to have produced, bought, or sold counterfeit proof of insurance cards for motor vehicles have turned themselves in as the result of warrants executed by the Arkansas Insurance Department.
The charges were filed as a result of an ongoing investigation by the department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) launched in July, the department reported. Many of these cards are alleged to have been used to register vehicles with the Arkansas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Named in the warrants are Tashanna Davis who is charged with five counts of insurance fraud and Lynette E. Finley who is charged with two counts. Charged with one count each are Zantreece McFerguson, Tina L. Borders, Christopher D. Maxwell, Chara Backus, Porchia L. Davis, Stephanie McCuien, and Deborah Lawrence.
All except Lawrence are residents of Pulaski County. Deborah Lawrence resides in Saline County.
Tashanna Davis, Finley, and McCuien are former employees of the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS).
During the course of an ongoing investigation by the CID, it was discovered that Davis and Finley allegedly used their work-related computers to generate fraudulent proof of insurance cards.
The issuance or possession of counterfeit insurance identification cards is a felony in Arkansas and is punishable by up to six years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 for each count.
According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, insurance fraud is the second most common crime in the United States and costs each individual household close to $1,000 a year. The Coalition has conducted studies that show tolerance to fraud is extremely high and growing. Traditionally, occurrences of fraud increase in a slow economy.
“In the execution of these warrants the Arkansas Insurance Department is sending a clear message that insurance fraud of any kind, no matter how large or small, will not be tolerated,” said Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Jay Bradford.
Source: Arkansas Insurance Department
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