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Lyman woman pleads guilty to insurance fraud
July 15, 2010



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Russ Dubisky, Executive Director
803-252-3455 or cell phone 803-708-5271
russd@scinsnews.com

Columbia, S.C. – July 15, 2010 – A Lyman woman has pleaded guilty in an insurance fraud case.

Tracy Rochelle Gage, 34, of Lyman, pleaded guilty July 13 in Greenville County Court of General Sessions to forgery, less than $5,000.

Judge Charles Pyle Jr. sentenced Gage to one year, suspended to one year probation and 30 days community service.

Investigators said Gage reported that her 1994 Mazda Navajo was stolen while it was on display for sale. The vehicle was recovered with damage.

Gage claimed the theft of an after-market stereo system from the car and produced a sales receipt of $1,450. The receipt was submitted to AIG insurance for payment.

Norton’s Stereo told investigators the submitted receipt had been altered. A true copy of the receipt showed that Gage had changed the amount from $150 to $1,450.

The case was investigated by SLED agents Joe Jordan and Danny Remion and AIG. It was prosecuted by the S.C. Attorney General’s Office.

The S.C. Insurance News Service reports a few interesting facts from the Attorney General’s 2009 report on insurance fraud:

  • By far the largest number of complaints came from automobile insurance fraud, at 493 of the 834 total (59 percent). Personal/commercial property fraud was next most common, at 13 percent of the total, followed by workers’ comp (10 percent) and health/medical (9 percent).

  • Cases have been reported from all over the state and the 335 files opened break down by region as follows:

  • Low Country: 30% (102)
  • Piedmont : 24% (79)
  • Midlands: 24% (82)
  • Pee Dee: 22% (72)

  • Richland County reported the largest number of complaints made, with 88, in an amount of $1,628,174.

  • Greenville County had the largest dollar value of fraud reported, with $2,226,496 (63 complaints).

    The South Carolina Insurance Fraud Hotline, 1 (888) 95-FRAUD, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for reporting insurance fraud, which can be a felony in South Carolina. All reports remain confidential.


    For more information, contact the South Carolina Insurance News Service at 803-252-3455 or use our contact form.

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