2022 Fraud Fighters Awards Presented
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The Virginia State Police (VSP) Insurance Fraud Program (IFP) presented awards to five individuals in recognition of their efforts to fight insurance fraud in the commonwealth. The awards ceremony took place on March 23, 2022, during the Virginia Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units (VAIASIU) annual conference held in Richmond, Virginia.
Senior Special Agent Barry Tuggle, Virginia State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Appomattox Field Office, was honored for the second year in a row. This year’s presentation highlighted two cases that he successfully investigated that resulted in the successful prosecution of two individuals for false insurance claims and the court ordering restitution payments of over $84,000.
The next award was presented to Special Agent Joey Straughan, Virginia State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Richmond Field Office, and Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Kelli Burnett, Office of the Richmond City Commonwealth’s Attorney. Working together they successfully investigated and prosecuted a case involving a subject who made false vehicle crash insurance claims of nearly $30,000.
Senior Special Agent William Royall, Virginia State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Richmond Field Office, was honored for his diligence in pursuing the owner of a funeral home who pocketed more than $50,000 in payments made by families to cover future funeral expenses. This individual was successfully prosecuted, sentenced and ordered to pay restitution.
The final award was presented to Senior Investigator Ron Brown, Virginia Bureau of Insurance. Through his thorough investigative analysis of financial records, Senior Investigator Brown revealed that an insurance agent stole more than $70,000 from her agency’s premium trust account. The subject was indicted by a grand jury on 10 counts of embezzlement.
VA IASIU also recognized a number of fraud fighters in Virginia. The Covington Award was presented to Mark Fulk, Cincinnati Insurance, and Elliott Casey, Commonwealth’s Attorney Services Council, was presented with the Outstanding Public Service Award. VA IASIU Challenge Coins were presented to Capt. Clifford Kincaid and Lt. David Beckner, Virginia State Police; Juan Rodriguez and Michael Nacy, Virginia State Corporation Commission-Bureau of Insurance; Jane Chambers, Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Services Council; and Catherine Ames, Ames Accounting.
The annual Fraud Fighters Awards program was developed in 2003 to assist in stemming the growing incidence of insurance fraud in Virginia by recognizing individuals for their special efforts in insurance fraud reduction. The award is sponsored by the Virginia State Police Insurance Fraud Program. Awards are presented to insurance companies’ fraud investigators, commonwealth’s attorneys, and members of Virginia’s law enforcement community who have made exemplary efforts in helping reduce insurance fraud in Virginia.
