Queens Woman Arrested For Filing Phony Insurance Claims

NEW YORK, NY (12/01/2009)(readMedia)-- A Queens woman faces up to seven years in prison if she is convicted on charges that she forged more than 50 insurance claims that she submitted to her health insurance company.

Regine Leconte, 33, of 48th Street, Long Island City, was arrested by the Special Prosecutions Division of the office of Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown following an investigation by the New York State Insurance Department's Frauds Bureau.

Investigators said Cigna Insurance Company paid Leconte $3,800 after she submitted the phony claims for health care treatments she never received. Leconte is accused of making up invoices that appeared similar to invoices for genuine treatments she received earlier and then faxing them to Cigna for payment.

Leconte was charged with grand larceny, forgery and insurance fraud.

A hearing will be scheduled in Queens County Criminal Court. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rosemary Buccieri.

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