Two Columbia residents plead guilty to $1.2 million insurance fraud scheme
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A pair of Columbia residents pleaded guilty in federal court to more than $1.2 million worth in insurance fraud that included false injury claims allegedly suffered in a car accident.
Latoya Marie Brown, 37, and Cedrick Shawndale Goldman, 46, each pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epp, Jr., to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
The two admitted they defrauded six insurance companies for a total of $1,234,581 from June 2017-July 2020. They submitted false claims that they suffered injuries in car crashes, according to court documents. A press release states they each received thousands of dollars and never made payments to medical providers and spent the money on personal expenses.
Brown admitted she was involved in three incidents and received a total of $44,269 in insurance payments. Goldman admitted he was involved in one incident and received a $14,900 insurance payment. Neither Brown nor Goldman have paid any of their hospital or medical bills with the insurance proceeds they received.
A sentencing date was not revealed. Each person could face up to 40 years in prison.
