(Washington, DC) - On April 4, 2003, the Insurance & Securities Fraud Bureau of the DC Department of Insurance & Securities Regulation (DISR) announced the sentencing of a former District resident found guilty of auto insurance fraud.

Lakisha Blocker, who currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland, was sentenced to Second Degree Theft on April 3, 2003, in Superior Court of the District of Columbia. On November 14, 2002, Blocker reported her vehicle stolen to the Metropolitan Police Department. She then filed a fraudulent claim with State Farm Insurance Company when in fact she had received notification that the lien holder had repossessed the vehicle due to non-payment. State Farm subsequently paid Blocker for loss of her vehicle based on her claim. Ms. Blocker was sentenced to 48 months probation and 100 days of community service. She was also fined $500.00 and ordered to pay $9,964.19 in restitution to State Farm.

“This sends a clear message to those that would attempt to defraud their insurance carrier,” said DISR Commissioner Lawrence H. Mirel. He continued, “I am pleased that the Superior Court worked in tandem with our Fraud Bureau to bring this case to justice and prosecute this case to the full extent of the law.”

Insurance fraud costs the American public $30 billion yearly. To report instances of insurance and securities fraud in the District, contact the DISR Fraud Bureau at 202.727.8000. Your call is free and can be anonymous.

The DC Department of Insurance and Securities Regulation (DISR) has two missions, (1) to provide fair, efficient and fast regulatory supervision of the insurance and securities businesses for the protection of the people of the District of Columbia, and (2) to create conditions that will retain and attract national and international insurance and other financial businesses to the District.