Kulpmont woman charged with insurance fraud following vehicle crash

KULPMONT — A 27-year-old Kulpmont woman has been charged with felonies of insurance fraud and theft by deception for allegedly misrepresenting information surrounding a vehicle crash to an insurance company.

Special Agent Evan Shipley, of the state attorney general's office, filed the charges against Jessica Wright, of 232 Scott St., on Oct. 7 in the office of Magisterial District Judge William Zalinski, in Shamokin.

According to the criminal complaint, Wright's vehicle insurance with Progressive was canceled at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 14, 2024, due to non-payment.

Wright made a payment to reinstate the policy at 4:40 p.m. Nov. 26. In a statement of "no loss," the defendant verified that the vehicle had not been in a crash between the time of the cancellation and renewal.

On the same date, at 6:50 p.m., she filed a claim, stating the vehicle was involved in a crash on Route 901 in Barry Township, Schuylkill County. The crash time was listed as 4:34 p.m.

A recorded statement was taken between a claim representative and Wright. The defendant now said the crash occurred at 5:30 p.m., but then changed the time back to 4:30 p.m.

A copy of the crash report states the incident occurred at 4:39 p.m.

Progressive determined that Wright misrepresented that a crash had already occurred before the policy was reinstated.

During a subsequent interview, Wright claimed she told her mother to renew the policy before leaving for work at about 4 p.m.