Thursday, April 2, 2015

LEADER OF INSURANCE FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT RING SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN THE SLAMMER




APRIL 1, 2015

DENVER, COLORADO

The leader of a Colorado insurance fraud ring was sentenced Wednesday.

Mike Tee, 41, will spend 18 years in the Department of Corrections for masterminding a criminal ring that stole insurance money by staging automobile accidents. He was indicted on 31 felony counts in April 2013.

Tee and his associates would claim both vehicle damages and bodily injury in fake accidents to collect insurance payouts. As part of some of the thefts, Tee and the others claimed the vehicles they owned were stolen, when in fact they were not and insurance companies ultimately paid more than $80,000.

An investigation by the Attorney General's Office also proved that Tee committed identity-theft by illegally possessing the credit card information of more than 100 cardholders, which was used to buy $21,000 worth of auto parts, retail equipment and furniture.

The jury found Tee guilty of theft, conspiracy, computer crime, identity theft, attempting to influence a public official, criminal impersonation and attempted theft.