Woman accused of using daughter's death to commit insurance fraud
(Source: St. Clair County Jail)
JUNE 23, 2015
A St. Clair County woman has been indicted on insurance fraud charges.
Carolyn Bunt, 46, of Cropwell was arrested Thursday after turning herself in to authorities at the St. Clair County Jail.
St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor said Bunt was charged with first-degree insurance fraud.
She's accused of fabricating bills and submitting them to an insurance company for payment after the death of her daughter, Meredith Ashley Brown who died in 2011 at the age of 21.
Minor said Bunt provided false information that resulted in fraudulent insurance payments in excess of $240,000.
Bunt was released after posting a $10,000 bond.
Alabama State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk, whose Fraud Division of the Alabama Department of Insurance began investigating the case in 2014 had this to say.
"Insurance Fraud is a crime and will continue to be vigorously pursued here and elsewhere." Paulk added fraud such as this is, in effect, stealing; stealing not only from the insurance provider but from all insurance consumers through the higher rates the providers must charge."
Bunt's arraignment is set for August.
First-degree insurance fraud carries a penalty of two to twenty years in prison.