Kingston woman charged with fraud

July 18--When a Kingston woman called to set up an auto insurance policy in April, she told the agent she hadn't been involved in an accident in the past five years.

In fact, it had only been seven minutes, authorities allege.

Tiffany Ann Brunson, 32, of 112 Sharpe St., is charged with insurance fraud after allegedly calling Safe Auto to initiate a policy mere minutes after getting into a fender-bender in the parking lot of Walmart in Wilkes-Barre Township.

According to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Task Force, Brunson had a policy with Safe Auto that lapsed on March 1.

At 12:44 p.m.April 11, Brunson backed into the vehicle of Steven Koppelman, according to a police affidavit. Wilkes-Barre Township police responded and filed a report.

Meanwhile, Brunson called Safe Auto at 12:51 p.m.April 11 to initiate a policy, saying she had not been in an accident in the past five years -- nor did her vehicle have any damage, investigators said.

The insurer launched a fraud investigation after Koppelman called Safe Auto the next day to file a claim.

Confronted by investigators, Brunson admitted calling Safe Auto after the accident, although she at first claimed the call was to get her policy number.

After being told the phone call had been recorded, Brunson admitted her policy had lapsed and she called to initiate a new one, investigators said.

The task force charged Brunson with a misdemeanor count of insurance fraud in a summons issued Friday. She is due before Magisterial District Judge Paul J. Roberts for a preliminary hearing Aug. 20 at 1:30 p.m.

[email protected] 570-821-2058, @cvjimhalpin

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