Abingdon Woman Sentenced to 18 Months for Insurance Fraud

An Abingdon woman who filed a fraudulent insurance claim about a diamond ring was sentenced to six years in jail with all but 18 months suspended, according to the Maryland Attorney General.

Michele Renee Tarbert, 48, of Abingdon, pleaded guilty in Harford County Circuit Court recently to felony insurance fraud, according to a statement from Attorney General Doug Gansler.

“Those who steal money by filing false insurance claims victimize both the insurance carrier and every insurance consumer whose premiums are driven up as direct result,” Gansler said in the statement.

Tarbert submitted written and verbal claims in April 2013 to Encompass Insurance Company about the alleged loss of her diamond ring, the statement said.

Investigation and work by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration, Maryland State Police and the Office of the Attorney General revealed the claim was fraudulent, according to the statement.

The maximum sentence for felony insurance fraud charge is 15 years in jail and up to $10,000.

Following her 18-month sentence, Tarbert will be on probation for five years, the statement said.