2 Sentenced for Insurance Fraud in West Virginia

West Virginia officials sentenced two McDowell County men after charging them with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, according to
West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, Jane L. Cline.

Cline said Harold Patrick Estep, 29, and Brian Keith Estep, 25, both of Panther, W. Va., pleaded guilty on February 16, 2007, to one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and were sentenced on April 29.

The court sentenced Harold Estep to one year in a regional jail for his role in staged auto accidents, and then suspended the sentence and ordered him to complete 10 consecutive weekends of jail time, Cline said. At the conclusion of his jail sentence period, he will be placed on probation for one year, Cline added.

Cline said the court sentenced Brian Estep to one year in jail, and then suspended eight months of the sentence. Upon completing his incarceration he will be placed on two years probation. The court ordered Brian Estep to pay $4,191.00 in restitution to State Farm Insurance, according to Cline.

Source: West Virginia Insurance Commission