Verizon Exec Charged With Phony Insurance Claims

Investigators say a Verizon sales executive who reported the theft of a 5-carat engagement ring filed at least four phony insurance claims totaling $400,000.

Marcus Darryl Williams will be in an Orange County, Calif., courtroom April 12 to enter pleas to five counts of making false or fraudulent claims.

Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna says the 39-year-old Williams told police in January that someone stole the ring from a backpack in his office. Williams told officers at the time he paid $70,000 for the ring.

Bertagna says investigators then determined Williams had filed insurance claims with four companies for $100,000 each, and police are looking into a claim with a fifth company.

Bertagna says the ring “miraculously reappeared” after police questioning.