S.D. Man Sentenced for Fraud

A Faulkton man who authorities say pretended to be someone else so that medical insurance would pay his hospital bill has been sentenced for fraud.

Twenty-six-year-old Timothy Stevens was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail and pay a $500 fine on the misdemeanor charge. He also must pay the hospital bill.

Authorities say Stevens, who did not have medical insurance, broke his ankle in a fight in Leola in 2006. They say Stevens and the man he fought concocted a plan under which Stevens would use the other man’s name and personal information to get treatment at the hospital in Aberdeen.

The plan worked until a follow-up appointment at which Stevens forgot the other man’s birthday during routine questioning by a health care worker.

Stevens apologized during his sentencing, calling what he did a drunken mistake.

___

Information from: Aberdeen American News,
http://www.aberdeennews.com