3 West Virginia Men Plead Guilty to Using Fraudulent Certificates

Three previously indicted or arrested Berkeley County, W. Va. men who presented fraudulent certificates of insurance as true documents in February pleaded guilty on May 7 and May 8, according to Insurance Commissioner, Jane L. Cline.

Richard E. Thompson Jr., 37, of Martinsburg, indicted in February on two felony counts of uttering for presenting fraudulent certificates of insurance for an automobile on two separate occasions pleaded guilty to one felony count of uttering a fraudulent insurance certificate, Cline said.

Patrick H. Williams Jr., 34, of Falling Waters, indicted in February on two felony counts of uttering for presenting fraudulent certificates of insurance for an automobile on two separate occasions also pleaded guilty to one felony count of uttering fraudulent insurance certificate, Cline said.

Thompson and Williams were sentenced to two years probation in addition to court ordered community service, Cline added.

Mathew J. Cook, 25, of Martinsburg, pleaded guilty in magistrate court May 7 to a reduced misdemeanor count of presenting a fraudulent certificate of insurance to the Department of Motor Vehicles in Martinsburg in order to renew his license on his motor vehicle, according to Cline. Cook was fined $100 plus court costs, Cline said.

Source: West Virginia Insurance Commission