Washington man sentenced for insurance fraud scheme

Thomas Stephanie, 46, of Washington, received a deferred judgment on Dec. 19, 2022 and was placed on probation for five years following a guilty plea on Oct. 26, 2022, to one count of Presenting False Information, a class "D" Felony, following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division's Fraud Bureau.

Stephanie was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,181.60 and a civil penalty in the amount of $1,025.

The charges against Stephanie stem from an investigation which began in June 2022. According to criminal complaints filed by the Iowa Insurance Division's Fraud Bureau, Stephanie provided false statements to an insurer in connection with a workers' compensation insurance claim. Stephanie received insurance benefits due to these false statements. Stephanie was arrested on Aug. 10, 2022.