New Consortium Plans Strategies to Combat Medical Fraud

The newly formed Consortium to Combat Medical Fraud, a joint project of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association and the National Insurance Crime Bureau, along with participation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice, announced on June 24 its national agenda to pursue the perpetrators of medical fraud.

The Consortium is designed to create a more open and collaborative environment between different segments of the insurance industry to heighten the detection and prevention of health care fraud.

North Plainfield Man Charged With Insurance Fraud

A North Plainfield man who works as a guidance counselor at a middle school in Newark was indicted Wednesday on charges he torched his own car two years ago to collect insurance.

Kenyatta O'Bryant, 36, was indicted on charges of aggravated arson, attempted theft by deception and insurance fraud.

If convicted of the charges, O'Bryant faces up to 10 years in prison.

Private Investigators Examine House Explosion

A team of private investigators converged Monday at the site of a home destroyed in an apparent natural gas explosion.

Last Thursday’s blast at 410 Wellingford Street, near West Sugar Creek Road and North Tryon, killed 4-month-old Synora Coleman and injured her parents.

California Report Details How to Reduce Fraudulent Insurance Claims

Following a meeting with his Advisory Task Force on Insurance Fraud, Blue Ribbon Review Committee, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that he will implement five actions to help reduce fraudulent claims, including creating a fusion center for insurance fraud investigations so law enforcement can share information more efficiently and quickly to identify emerging trends and crime patterns.

"Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime," said Commissioner Poizner. "The costs are passed onto consumers to the tune of $500 a year for every man, woman and child and that's why I have made fighting insurance fraud one of my highest priorities."

Jury To Continue Deliberating In Wilcox Case

Jury deliberations will continue Wednesday for the man accused in the fiery crash on Avon Mountain three years ago that killed four people.

The jury has been deliberating since Friday and has not reached a verdict in the case of David Wilcox, who is the owner of the truck that barreled down Avon Mountain 2005.

The issue in the trial is if Wilcox, 72, did know that the liability insurance on his truck was suspended or if he tried to reinstate it right after the crash.

Fayetteville Reels in Bogus Movies, CDs

A DeKalb County man, who was found with over 300 counterfeit movies and 800 counterfeit music CD’s in his car, now faces felony charges in Fayetteville

According to Capt. Steve Crawshaw of the Fayetteville Police Department, Kenneth McCrory, 50, was arrested Wednesday and charged with unauthorized distribution and sale of recorded material.

According to Crawshaw, the arrest came after Fayetteville Police were contacted by a private investigator working for the Motion Picture Association of America.

The investigator told police he had purchased movies from a man selling them out of his SUV, Crawshaw said.