Texas Family Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Aflac

Seven family members, including a former Hidalgo County district court probation officer, have been convicted for their roles in a $3 million scheme to defraud insurer Aflac.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson says they pleaded guilty Monday in McAllen to wire fraud in a scheme that involved thousands of false injury claims. At sentencing, set for February, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison.

A news release from Magidson says the defendants delivered lists of fake accidents and injuries to two doctors in Reynosa, Mexico. The doctors then prepared accident reports for each fake injury. About 21,000 false injury claims were sent to Aflac’s claims department in Columbus, Ga.

Thirty-five of the 36 defendants charged in the case over the summer have now been convicted of wire fraud.