CECIL MAN CHARGED WITH INSURANCE FRAUD AND THEFT

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., announced today the filing of criminal insurance fraud charges against Harry Walter Hepbron, 44, of Elkton, Maryland. In a four (4) count indictment filed in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Hepbron was charged with making false statements in support of a claim and theft. The charges allege that on November 1st, 11th and 18th 1998, Hepbron made false statements to the Erie Insurance Company and on January 12th 1999 did steal insurance benefits having a value of $20,488. The case was filed in Montgomery County where the alleged false claim was received by Erie.

If convicted of theft, Hepbron could be sentenced to serve 15 years in prison and fined $25,000. He also faces 15 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine if convicted on the insurance fraud counts.

The indictment follows a joint investigation conducted by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General. A criminal information is merely an accusation of wrongdoing, and every individual is presumed innocent until the charges are proven by the State. No trial date has been set.