Is insurance fraud a felony in Georgia?

In these tough economic times, it’s no surprise that insurance fraud is on the rise. According to a recent report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the number of claims that are suspected has increased by over 50% in the last two years.

Neal Caffrey is Not Your Role Model

Many television enthusiasts view white-collar crime as sexy, fun and exciting. The USA Network on cable television has devoted an entire series to these crimes, making it appear as if the offender is some type of “Robin Hood” of the 21st century. However, State Prosecutors and the FBI don’t think it’s so funny and opt to excuse themselves from such games. While our protagonist by the name of Neal Caffrey in White Collar seems to get away with crimes, this is not the norm in our society. Insurance fraud is a serious offense and may result in severe penalties.

Avoiding Jail Time and Saving Your Skin

False claims occur when an individual knowingly falsifies information in order to obtain a settlement through an insurance policy. For example, let’s say that Bob takes out a life insurance policy for his wife and just two week later she is found dead. The police will want to determine if there was motive in his wife’s untimely death. If he is found to be responsible for her death, he will face murder charges along with insurance fraud because he caused her death in order to benefit from the life insurance policy. Insurance fraud penalties are always prosecuted as a felony offense in Georgia with a prison term of up to 11 years and a fine of up to $18,700.

Help From a Criminal Defense Attorney

All individuals are protected by the U.S. Constitution to be presumed innocent. It is imperative that you find a good criminal defense attorney to defend your right against bogus charges. Never give up hope and believe that investigators can exonerate you when the facts don’t line up proving your involvement with the crime.