3 Arrested in W. Va. on Insurance Fraud Charges

West Virginia Insurance officials arrested three individuals in Putnam County for alleged insurance fraud.

The Insurance Commissioner’s Fraud Unit arrested Diana K. Phillips, 52, of Hurricane, Charles Keith Phillips, 44, of Hurricane and James T. Willis, 39, of St. Albans and arraigned them on Nov. 26.

The three were charged with one felony count each of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and one misdemeanor charge each of witness intimidation.

In addition to the first two charges, Phillips was charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit malicious wounding which is also related to the insurance fraud charges.

Willis was also charged with obtaining a controlled substance under false pretenses due to an investigation by another law enforcement agency.

All three individuals allegedly conspired to dispose of Phillips’s 2005 KIA minivan by pushing it over a hill in January and then attempted to prevent witnesses from cooperating with the investigation.

If convicted, each felony count carries a one to 10-year sentence in a state penitentiary and up to a $10,000 fine or both. Each misdemeanor count carries up to a year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine or both.

Source: West Virginia Insurance Commission