Md. Man Nabbed in Auto Scam

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced that Darryl R. Hardy, 39, of Forest View Place pleaded guilty in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County to felony insurance fraud.

The conviction follows a joint investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General, the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Maryland State Police. The Honorable D. Warren Donohue ordered a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10, 2006.

In a statement of facts presented by the prosecutor, the court learned that Hardy had submitted numerous fraudulent automobile accident insurance claims totaling over $29,000.00 between October of 2001 and March of 2005 wherein he reported that his vehicle had been damaged by debris falling from another vehicle, usually a commercial truck, when, in fact, no such incident occurred.

Often, he also reportedly claimed that broken glass from the windshield had sprayed into his and/or his children’s eyes. In many instances, according to the statement, he did not even own the vehicle purportedly damaged. To effectuate his scheme, Hardy would reportedly submit altered or fabricated repair shop estimates or bills in support of his claims.

Hardy could be sentenced to serve up to 15 years for this conviction.