Score another win for social media as an investigative tool. Maria Apodaca Simmons of Phoenix, Ariz., claimed in June 2013 that she had lost her wedding rings a few days after her wedding while swimming in the Pacific Ocean. She told Travelers Insurance they were worth $26,500 and the insurer paid.
It seems like losing wedding rings runs in the family because Simmons filed a similar claim for her husband's wedding ring in October 2013.
A sharp State Farm employee thought something was up when Simmons was interviewed about her husband's claim. Simmons had provided State Farm with the same photos and appraisal she had supplied to Travelers for her missing wedding rings, which she seemed to be wearing during the interview. State Farm notified the Arizona Department of Insurance and investigators found a photo of Simmons on her Facebook page wearing the rings after they had been reported lost.
When investigators executed a search warrant at Simmons' home they discovered rings which she said were duplicates of the originals. When the investigators contacted the jeweler, he said he had only crafted one set of rings.
Eventually Simmons admitted that both claims were fraudulent and she was charged with two counts of insurance fraud. She pled guilty to both counts last month and will be placed on probation as part of a plea agreement. She also agreed to pay Travelers $26,953.60 in restitution and the Arizona Department of Insurance $1,005.11 for their investigative costs. Simmons will be sentenced later on this month.
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