The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office has announced felony charges against 21 people after a sweep conducted by the office’s Insurance Fraud Section.
“Insurance fraud is a serious crime that impacts consumers and policyholders across our commonwealth,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said. “We will aggressively prosecute anyone who breaks the law by providing false information to an insurance company. When people commit insurance fraud, it causes premiums to rise for the folks who follow the rules. It’s wrong, and we’re taking action to stop it.”
Celebrate excellence in insurance. Join us at the Insurance Business Awards in Chicago.
The 21 people arrested in the sweep have been charged with insurance fraud and related charges, Shapiro’s office said. In one case highlighted by the office, defendants Bonnie Sharer and Gordon Wade claimed that $19,600 worth of property, including a Sony LED television and a Select Comfort bed, had been stolen from them. An investigation found that not only had the claimed property not been stolen from Shaner and Wade – they’d never owned it in the first place. The two defendants admitted to forging or doctoring the receipts they submitted with their claim.
Another highlighted case involved Bahram Panahiazar, a representative at insurance company Western & Southern Financial Group. Panahiazar allegedly created 22 phony insurance applications between 2014 and 2016 in order to collect commissions. He resigned after being confronted about the alleged fraud.
Related stories:
Florida lawyers reach plea agreements for auto insurance fraud scheme
Ex-Zurich employee gets probation for theft from the insurer
