A Florida woman has been charged with insurance fraud after an investigation determined she knowingly listed an unqualified individual as a dependent on insurance forms. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Financial Services Bureau of Insurance Fraud conducted the investigation.
According to the sheriff’s office, they were notified on Oct. 17 that the Walton County human resources director may have engaged in fraudulent activities. An investigation revealed that the defendant, age 48, had listed an adult man as a dependent on her insurance policy from United Concordia Dental. However, authorities discovered that the man did not qualify as a dependent. A review of the policy found that United had paid out less than $300 in dental claims for the man.
A representative with the sheriff’s office said that the defendant’s position as human resources director means that she had extensive knowledge of insurance eligibility regulations for employees. Therefore, she is accused of intentionally falsifying documents to wrongly obtain dental benefits for the man. A representative for Walton County said the defendant will be put on administrative leave while an internal investigation is conducted. On Nov. 17, the defendant surrendered to the Okaloosa County jail. She has been charged with filing false and fraudulent insurance claims, falsifying records and official misconduct. The investigation remains open.
Individuals facing charges for white-collar crimes could help themselves by contacting a criminal defense attorney as quickly as possible. A lawyer could offer legal counsel even before charges are filed and protect a client’s rights throughout the investigation. If charges are filed, an attorney could build a strong defense based on the circumstances of the case, which could get the charges reduced or dismissed.
Source: NWF Daily News, “Walton County HR director charged with insurance fraud,” Nov. 18, 2017