News Room

COLUMBIA, S.C. – February 22, 2019 – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that Dashun Malik Canty, 21, of Sumter, South Carolina, entered a plea of guilty on October 3, 2018 on an insurance fraud charge. Canty pleaded guilty to one count of Presenting a False Claim for Payment $10,000 or More.

The Honorable Kristi F. Curtis accepted the plea and sentenced Canty pursuant to the Youthful Offender Act. His sentence is not to exceed three years in prison on his charge. That sentence is suspended to three years of probation.

“We will continue to go after people who commit fraud,” said Attorney General Wilson. “Insurance fraud raises rates for everyone,” he said.

The incident began on December 21, 2016 with the defendant’s alleged motor vehicle accident at the corner of Plowden Mill Road and Boulevard Road in Sumter County. Medical bills for Canty were submitted to GEICO, and the insurance company paid out $18,000 to him. Canty later cashed the settlement check from GEICO.

The claim was later included as part of a larger insurance fraud investigation done by SLED for forged medical bills. Over the course of the SLED agent’s investigation, the defendant was questioned. Canty eventually admitted he was not in an accident on the date of the alleged incident. Canty also stated he had never been to the hospital that was listed on the medical bills. He explained that he had given his social security number and date of birth to Tyburious Heyward, an alleged ring leader in these insurance fraud cases. He gave the information to Heyward so Heyward could create forged medical bills for him to file the fraudulent vehicle accident claim with the insurance company. The deal was that Heyward was supposed to give Canty some money for the claim.

The Attorney General emphasizes other defendants who have not yet been tried are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

The cases were investigated by SLED and prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General LaRone Washington and Savanna Goude.

Insurance fraud is an expensive and often a dangerous crime that results in increased insurance costs for every household. While the exact amount of fraud is difficult to determine, the Insurance Information Institute estimates that 10% of the insurance industries’ losses and adjustment expenses can be attributed to fraud.

To report suspected insurance fraud, call the Insurance Fraud Hotline at (888) 95-FRAUD (888-953-7283). Callers can remain anonymous.

For more information, contact the South Carolina Insurance News Service at 803-252-3455 or use our contact form.