Georgia Mom Posed as Dead Son to Collect $151K From Insurance Policy

June 7, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

Prosecutors in Fulton County, Georgia, say a woman has admitted to collecting more than $151,000 on a fraudulent insurance policy she took out in her dead son’s name.

Donna Ellis Gibbs was sentenced to 20 years’ probation in the case after pleading guilty. She faced five counts of insurance fraud and one count of theft by taking.

Prosecutors say Gibbs pretended to be her deceased son and applied for an accidental death policy two months after his death in a December 2002 car crash. She later submitted a claim and collected the full policy amount.

Gibbs’ ex-husband, the son’s father, uncovered the plot in March 2007.

The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office says Gibbs’ sentence can be terminated after five years if she successfully completes the terms of her plea agreement.

 

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetCategories: Southeast NewsTopics: accidental death policy, insurance fraudHave a hot lead? Email us at newsdesk

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N.J. Crew Members Sentenced in Failed Bid to Sink Ship, Collect $400K

April 5, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

Two men who admitted roles in a botched attempt to sink a fishing boat to collect insurance money are now headed to federal prison.

Erik James of Goshen and Christopher Martin of Wildwood both received 30-month terms when they were sentenced Tuesday. The men, who are both 40 years old, were former crew members on the Alexander II fishing boat.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has said the pair and three other defendants — including the ship’s owner — sought $400,000 in insurance money. They took the boat to a point about 86 miles southeast of Cape May and tried unsuccessfully to sink it, after falsifying the ship’s log.

James and Martin had both pleaded guilty to complaints charging them with conspiracy to destroy the boat on the high seas.

 

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetCategories: East NewsTopics: Fraud, insurance fraudHave a hot lead? Email us at newsdesk

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