NYSID Announces Arrest of Two Women for Fraudulent WTC Life Claims

New York’s Superintendent of Insurance, Gregory V. Serio, announced the arrests of Dorothy Johnson and Twila McKee, both of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on charges of insurance fraud and attempted theft by fraud for submitting fraudulent claims to two life insurance companies falsely stating that Dorothy Johnson had died in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.

“It is alleged that Ms. Johnson and Ms. McKee fraudulently submitted claims to both Conseco Direct Life Insurance Company and Peoples Benefit Life Insurance Company claiming that Ms. Johnson had been killed at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001,” the bulletin continued. “The benefits totaled approximately $135,000 and Ms. McKee was named as beneficiary on both policies. The investigation revealed that Ms. Johnson was still alive and in fact, her fingerprints were on the Conseco claim form that stated she was dead. In addition, Ms. Johnson submitted an automobile claim to another insurer 12 days after she had purportedly died.”

The NYSID conducted the investigation in cooperation with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. It was turned over to the Milwaukee County District Attorney after it was revealed that Ms. Johnson and Ms. McKee lived in Milwaukee and made the claims in Milwaukee. “Ms. Johnson was arrested in Wisconsin on August 15th and Ms. McKee was arrested on August 18th. If convicted of these charges, they each face up to 40 years in state prison in Wisconsin,” said the announcement.

Commenting on the arrests, Serio noted: “While many across the country opened their wallets to donate to those in need after the attacks on the World Trade Center, these con artists attempted to unlawfully profit by taking advantage of this national tragedy. The Department along with the Manhattan DA’s office, and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office worked aggressively on this case and will continue with other law enforcement agencies on the national, state and local level to pursue this type of outrageous conduct with the full force of the law.”