TROOP G NEWS RELEASE
May 24, 2015
False Insurance Claim Lands Mansfield Woman in Jail Mansfield – Following an investigation into a complaint, Troopers with the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud / Auto Theft Unit arrested 30-year-old Lunita Hines of Mansfield for insurance fraud.
On August 7, 2013, the LSP Insurance Fraud / Auto Theft Unit received a complaint filed with the Louisiana Department of Insurance by a local insurance provider’s special investigations unit. The complaint alleged Hines filed a fraudulent insurance claim on her insurance company’s automobile policy following an alleged property damage claim for her 2013 Dodge Ram pick-up truck.
The investigation revealed Hines filed a claim with the provider on June 4, 2013, at which time she alleged a June 3, 2013 date of loss. Hines reported to her insurer that she had took her vehicle for a routine oil change on June 3, 2013 at which time it was discovered the vehicle had sustained damage to its fuel tank. Further investigation of the claim revealed Hines purchased the current insurance policy on May 31, 2013.
Documentation was gathered showing Hines actually took the vehicle in for service May 30, 2013, the day prior to the start of her insurance coverage. Although Hines had a previous insurance policy for the vehicle with another carrier/provider, it canceled on April 20, 2013, for non-payment of premiums. As a result, Hines vehicle was uninsured until such time she purchased insurance with a different carrier on May 31, 2013.
At the conclusion of the investigation, it was discovered that Hines misrepresented the facts directly related to this claim. She knowingly and intentionally misrepresented the date of loss to make it appear that any damage to her vehicle occurred after the start of her insurance policy. Had Hines been successful with her fraudulent claim, the insurance provider would have paid out $1,232.10 for a claim for which they were not liable.
On May 18, 2015, Troopers obtained an arrest warrant for Hines for one count of Insurance Fraud and on May 21, 2015, Hines was arrested by the Mansfield Police Department and booked into the DeSoto Parish Jail with bond set at $1,500.
Insurance Fraud is a serious crime and will not be taken lightly. Troopers will continue to partner with local Law Enforcement to proactively seek out these offenders and bring them to justice.
Contact Information:
TFC Matt Harris
Louisiana State Police
Troop G Public Affairs
Office: (318)741-7411
matt.harris@la.gov www.LSP.org www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice
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