Five Arrested in Statewide Insurance Fraud Scheme

On March 8, 2011, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the U.S. Marshal’s Southeast Regional Fugitive Taskforce, Henry County Fire Department, Columbus Fire Department, Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fort Valley Police Department arrested five (5) people in connection with a statewide insurance fraud scheme.

The arrests come after a seven month investigation stemming from a mobile home fire in Shiloh Mobile Home Park which occurred in August of 2010. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the suspicious nature of the fire by the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

While researching the suspicious nature of the fire in Fayette County, investigators uncovered similar fires in Columbus, Kennesaw, Hampton, and Locust Grove. Investigators discovered a similarity in the types of homes, manner of purchase, nature of fire and insurance policies obtained in each one of these incidents.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by The State Fire Marshall’s Office, The Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Henry County Fire Department, Columbus Fire Department, and the Columbus Police Department.

The suspects were all charged with the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) statute that states, in part “It is unlawful for any person employed by or associated with any enterprise to conduct or participate in, directly or indirectly, such enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity”.

Fayette County Investigators have arrested Deanna Leigh Webster, 22, of Columbus, Shantavia Nichole Stewart, 22, of Fort Valley, Ashley Simmons, 23, of Columbus, Tamia Shinay Nicholas, 23, of Columbus, and Diana Lukisha Moore, 36, of Columbus. All five (5) suspects are currently in the Fayette County Jail.

Warrants are still outstanding for Shaemeka Eileen Miller, 23, of Columbus in connection with this investigation. Fayette County Investigators are not ruling out the possibility of additional arrests in this case due to the ongoing investigation.