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Theanyi Onykewere was lured into insurance fraud by the promise of easy money. At least that’s what his attorney says.
After a long investigation, Onykewere and three other Nigerian immigrants living in the Milwaukee area were sentenced to prison terms or probation for their parts in a staged auto accident claim scam. Two participants, the alleged ringleaders, left town before they could be arrested. Seven others are still under investigation.
Using multiple insurance policies on the same vehicle, claims were filed with different insurance companies for the same damage. Because each claim was for a relatively small amount — between $1,500 and $2,500 — the claims were not highly scrutinized by the carriers. One car was the subject of seven different claims, for a total of over $10,000, within a six-month period.
Those sentenced were Onykewere, seven years in prison; Cyprian N. Amadi, five-year prison term; Ekezie E. Akali, two year’s probation; and Chukwuemeka Adimechefu Ibuaka, six months in the House of Correction.
The fraudulent claims that led to the convictions and sentencing for these four totaled only about $20,000. But authorities believe total claims submitted by the ring totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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