Acting Texas U.S. Attorney: Houston Businessman Sentenced for Lake Livingston Insurance Fraud Scheme

BEAUMONT, Texas, Sept. 28 -- The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Nicholas J. Ganjei, issued the following news release:

A Houston businessman has been sentenced to prison for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.

Robert Lance Kuperman, 74, pleaded guilty on March 22, 2021, to interstate transportation of money by fraud and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield. Kuperman was also ordered to pay over $1.8 million in restitution.

"Fraud victimizes not only the insurance companies, but costs Americans billions of dollars every year in increased premiums," said Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei. "I thank our federal, state, and local partners--law enforcement and non-enforcement alike--for the excellent work they provided in this case."

According to information presented in court, Kuperman purchased a home on Lake Livingston in Polk County in 2013. In July 2015, he submitted an insurance claim related to water damage to the house that he said was caused by a defective water heater. As part of the claim, Kuperman submitted fraudulent documentation supporting his claim for out-of-pocket costs associated with what he represented was his replacement of personal property destroyed by the water leak.

Based on Kuperman's fraudulent claims, American Strategic Insurance Company issued a series of checks, made payable to Kuperman totaling $412,836.12. As part of the sentence, Kuperman was ordered to repay not only the $412,836.12 to American Strategic Insurance Company, but an additional $1,445,000.00 in restitution to RSUI Indemnity Group for conduct deemed relevant to the offense, for a total of $1,857,836.24 in restitution and an additional fine of $80,000.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tommy L. Coleman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.