Ex-Employee at Houston Store Gets Prison for Insurance Fraud

An ex-claims worker at a Houston decor store has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison and must repay $2 million in an insurance scam.

Sandra Johnson of Katy was sentenced on June 15 in Houston. The 48-year-old Johnson in February pleaded guilty to receiving kickbacks in money laundering conspiracy involving customers and fake injury claims.

Johnson formerly was the claims manager at a Garden Ridge Pottery store. The case involved more than two dozen false claims approved by Johnson, who received kickbacks from the $2 million settlements.

Her sister, Natalie Jeng of Katy, was an adjuster for a business hired by Garden Ridge to also review claims and approve payments. Jeng also pleaded guilty in the scheme and awaits sentencing.

Garden Ridge Pottery is now known as At Home.

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Topics Fraud