Four-Year Prison Sentence for San Antonio Woman for Insurance Fraud

The Bexar County 379th District Court recently convicted Lakeisha Stevens of San Antonio, Texas, of a third-degree felony charge of insurance fraud ($20,000-$100,000) and sentenced Stevens to serve four years in prison.

The conviction follows an investigation by the Texas Department of Insurance Fraud Unit involving an extensive analysis of medical claims submitted by Stevens over an extended time. The case was prosecuted by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office with the assistance of TDI Special Prosecutor Nicole Thornbro.

“Insurance fraud is a crime that will not be tolerated in Texas,” said Insurance Commissioner Julia Rathgeber. “Our investigators and special prosecutors are working tirelessly with local law enforcement to combat this problem that affects all policyholders. I would like to thank the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office for working with TDI to make this latest case.”

Stevens was involved in an auto collision resulting in minor injuries. Evidence showed she subsequently submitted multiple medical claims, falsely representing that her treatments were for injuries and pain sustained as a result of her auto collision. The TDI investigator assigned to the case conducted interviews with multiple medical doctors and verified that the medical problems Stevens was receiving treatment for were pre-existing conditions or newly emerging medical issues totally unrelated to the auto accident. Stevens’ fraudulent claims totaled $29,925.85.

TDI Special Prosecutors are located in the District Attorney Offices in Bexar, Dallas and Harris counties and work with special investigative units, insurance industry representatives, local law enforcement, and special crimes task forces to prosecute insurance crimes and protect consumers.

In Fiscal Year 2013, TDI investigators investigated more than 500 cases of alleged insurance fraud. A total of 222 investigations were referred for prosecution, resulting in 108 indictments, 130 final dispositions and total restitution of more than $2.5 million. Since 2005, a total of more than $8.5 million in restitution has been ordered in cases prosecuted by TDI Special Prosecutors.

Source: Texas Department of Insurance