Five Florida residents, including a claims adjuster for Zurich Insurance Group, are accused of stealing more than $240,000 from the insurer by creating multiple false and fabricated claims.
Donald Alfred Toohey III, 30, of Lake County, Fla., was recently arrested following an anonymous tip in September 2009 of possible fraudulent activity during his employment with Zurich, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud.
An investigation found that Toohey, along with four other individuals, were allegedly receiving payments from 26 different claims, totaling $240,000, from August 2004 through June 2009 in various counties in Florida. The investigation discovered that Toohey, using his position as a Zurich claims adjuster, created fictitious claims for monetary gain for himself and his four co-conspirators, all of Pasco County, Fla., according to investigators.
The co-conspirators are identified as Scott J. Kincaid, 44; Brian Frederick Kneifer, 26; Anthony Michal Kneifer, 26; and Tricia Ann Allen, 27. All four, along with Toohey, face up to 15 years in state prison if convicted on charges of grand theft and conspiracy.
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The scam was allegedly initiated by Toohey, who would create a fraudulent file and claim for each of the participants, showing reason for reimbursement to the individual for injuries occurring either to the person or their automobile during an accident, according to officials.
The participant would then receive a check in the mail with the understanding that a portion was to be paid to Toohey.
The investigation into Toohey’s alleged activities led the fraud division to confirm three or more checks received and cashed by each individual with thefts ranging from $8,800 to more than $67,000.
Zurich Insurance Group informed investigators that none of the five were policyholders at the time of payment, or at any other time, and payment audits confirmed the payouts as fraudulent, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services.
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