Pennsylvania Attorney General Corbett Announces Arrest Of Schuylkill County Police Officer In Insurance Fraud Scam

June 12, 2007 -- HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that agents from the Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Section have filed criminal charges against a Schuylkill County police officer accused of submitting a false insurance claim.

Corbett identified the defendant as Shannon A. Tietsworth, 31, of 522 East Main Street, Hegins. Tietsworth is a police officer with the Hegins Township Police Department.

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According to the criminal complaint, Tietsworth submitted a claim to the Erie Insurance Group under his automobile insurance policy reporting that he fractured his right hand when his son accidentally closed the van door on it. Under the policy, Tietsworth would have been entitled to medical and wage loss benefits.

Erie Insurance learned that Tietsworth had reported to medical personnel that he had injured his hand while playing basketball. When confronted with the medical records, Tietsworth allegedly insisted that he injured his hand in the van door and that hospital personnel misunderstood his explanation. During the course of the investigation, agents from the Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Section learned that Tietsworth had actually injured his hand when he punched a refrigerator door during an argument with his wife.

Erie Insurance Group denied the claim and no payment was made.

The defendant is charged with one count of insurance fraud and one count of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.

Tietsworth was preliminarily arraigned before New Cumberland Magisterial District Judge Charles A. Clement, Jr. and released on his own recognizance. Tietsworth waived his preliminary hearing and is scheduled for formal arraignment on Aug. 7, 2007 in Cumberland County.

Corbett said that the case will be prosecuted in Cumberland County by Deputy Attorney General John Dickinson.

(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)

Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General