Three Arrested For False Car Insurance Claims

Nov. 06--Three Cambria County residents were among 27 arrested in a Western Pennsylvania insurance fraud investigation, state investigators said.

The arrests were part of a statewide sweep that netted 60 people caught making fraudulent claims, according to state Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Locally, charges were filed against people who either made changes to their car insurance or added it after they were involved in significant vehicle accidents, with investigators saying they lied about what happened to be reimbursed for their losses, criminal complaints show.

Sharon Williams, 38, of Johnstown, Kristen Moore, 24, of Coupon, and Heather Bordack, 43, of Blandburg, all face fraud charges for separate incidents -- related to claims ranging from $1,700 to $5,075, the documents show.

In Williams' case, she attempted to make changes to her insurance after her Dodge Durango caught fire while another woman was using it, police said, shortly after her insurance company learned of the issue.

Investigators said Bordack added insurance after a crash caused $3,000 in damage to her vehicle, but investigators realized the photos she took were taken before the policy was initiated, despite her story.

"Insurance fraud is a serious crime that impacts consumers and policyholders across our commonwealth," Shapiro said.

"When people commit insurance fraud, it causes premiums to rise for the folks who do follow the rules. It's wrong, and we're taking action to stop it."

The State Office of the Attorney General's Insurance fraud Section investigators handled the sweep.

The following people were also arrested elsewhere in the region on insurance fraud charges:

--Nicholas Markle, 27, of Newry.

--Jesse Finnegan, 51, of Coalport.

--Brent O'Neal, 25, Greensburg.

Investigators said some of their statewide arrests involved people seeking money for hail damage that the car already had when it was purchased. A Montgomery County man was also caught using fake receipts to back his false claim that $43,000 in mink coats and jackets were swiped from his vehicle.

David Hurst is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at (814) 532-5053. Follow him on Twitter @TDDavidHurst and Instagram @TDDavidHurst.

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