APR 26, 2018

SC Attorney General Alan Wilson Announces Health Care Insurance Fraud Conviction

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - April 26, 2018 - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces the guilty plea and sentencing of a Texas man who defrauded Genworth Financial out of over $35,000. On April 25, 2018, John P. Sankey, 53, pleaded guilty to Making a False Representation over $1,000.  Judge George M. McFaddin gave him a three year sentence.  This sentence was suspended to 3 years of probation.  A special condition of probation is for Mr. Sankey to pay $35,506.55 in restitution.  Probation may terminate upon payment in full of restitution and assessments.  Mark Hardee of the Hardee Law Firm in Columbia represented Sankey.

“A fraud case of more than $35,000 is serious,” Attorney General Wilson said. “Insurance fraud raises all of our rates and is a very real problem in South Carolina.”

John Sankey’s parents, who were living in Columbia, held a long-term care policy with Genworth Financial, and Sankey opened claims on behalf of his parents.  In early conversations with Genworth representatives, the Defendant was explicitly told that the policy did not allow for reimbursement of home health care provided by family members.

Mr. Sankey certified that his father could not do most physical tasks without assistance and that he needed home health care.  Sankey later submitted invoices to Genworth claiming a home health care worker was caring for his parents 12 hours/day for 7 days/week.  Based on surveillance conducted by Genworth, there were long periods when no care at all was being provided.  The insurance company also found out it was the Defendant who was providing the vast majority of care for his parents.  Additionally, further surveillance showed that Mr. Sankey’s father needed nowhere near the level of assistance Sankey certified.

Assistant Attorney General LaRone Washington prosecuted the case.  The case was investigated by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

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