W.Va. Men Admit False Claims in Staged Crashes

Federal authorities say two West Virginia men have admitted their roles in filing false insurance claims for motor vehicle accidents.

They were among eight people indicted in March over staged accidents from 2012 to 2014 in three counties.

According to prosecutors, 55-year-old Dallas Lewis, of Clarksburg, pleaded guilty to mail fraud conspiracy and 34-year-old Charles Bonner, of Morgantown, pleaded guilty to mail fraud.

Authorities say Bonner took part in a staged accident in January 2012 in Harrison County, faking injuries and filing a false insurance claim that paid approximately $101,500 to him and others.

He also admitted a role in getting an insurance settlement check sent to someone else for $46,500.

The indictment alleged that Lewis coordinated the crashes and recruited the others.

Three Charged with Illegally Taking Items from Donation Center

Three people have been arrested for taking donated items while falsely claiming to be flood victims.

Sgt. C.R. Johnson of the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources tells WVVA-TV that a recent anonymous tip lead the department to investigate siblings Eric Stone, Diane Stone and Marcia Stone of Rupert.

Johnson says the three suspects live in an upstairs apartment and were not impacted by the flooding. However, he says they took cleaning supplies, bed sheets, pillows and pet food from a Rainelle distribution center.

The three have been charged with obtaining services under false pretenses.

The Greenbrier Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation.

It wasn’t immediately clear if any of the suspects have attorneys.

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