FORMER MAIF EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH FELONY THEFT

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today the filing of felony theft charges against Karla E. Biven of the 500 block of Bay Drive in Stevensville. Biven, 36, was employed as a claims adjustor with the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund until her resignation in January of 2005 for reasons unrelated to this case. The charges follow a joint investigation by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration, the Maryland State Police and the Office of the Attorney General.

In a one count criminal information filed in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Biven was charged with felony theft for fraudulently adding fake claimants to existing automobile accident claims and disbursing approximately $7366.00.in fraudulent claims settlements.

If convicted, Biven could face up to fifteen years in prison on each felony 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.