BALTIMORE CITY POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH FELONY INSURANCE FRAUD

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today the filing of felony insurance fraud and attempted theft charges against Baltimore City Police Officer Elijah Stevens, Jr. The filing of charges follows a joint investigation conducted by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General.

In a two count criminal information filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Stevens was charged with submitting fraudulent documentation and statements to the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund in support of an insurance claim and attempting to steal approximately $5300.00 in insurance proceeds. The charges allege that Stevens reported to the insurance company that an accident that he was involved in occurred on February 12, 2004 instead of January 28, 2004. Stevens obtained automobile insurance with MAIF on January 29,2004.

If convicted, Stevens could face up to fifteen years in prison on each count. No trial date has been set. A criminal information is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and every individual is presumed innocent until the charges are proven by the State.

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