CALVERT MAN CONVICTED OF INSURANCE FRAUD

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., announced today that Dennis Louis Heflin, 44, of Prince Frederick, Maryland was convicted of insurance fraud. A jury sitting in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County found Heflin guilty of filing false information in support of an insurance claim for long-term disability benefits.

The jury heard evidence that on August 11, 1997 Heflin submitted an application for long-term disability benefits claiming that he had been injured on March 6, 1997, that he was not working due to his injury and that his injury would keep him from working in the future. The jury also heard evidence, however, that Heflin worked as a route salesman for Lance's, Inc. from April 24, 1997 through June 20 1997 and then in the same capacity for Tom's Foods, Inc. from July 7, 1997 through October 16, 1997. When the Hartford insurance company discovered that Heflin was employed during the time he claimed to be disabled, the company compared the job duties Heflin had as an assistant manager at Food Lion at the time he stated he was injured to the duties of the job position he held at Lance's and Tom's and determined that the work done for Lance's and Tom's was more physically demanding. Heflin had received over $63,000 in benefit checks by the time Hartford discontinued the payment of benefits.

The trial was presided over by Judge Donald Davis, who ordered a pre-sentence investigation prior to setting a sentencing date. Heflin could be sentenced to serve 15 years in prison and fined $10,000.

The charges and trial follow a joint investigation conducted by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General.

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