Pocono News Section

9 in Poconos Busted for Insurance Fraud

9 in Poconos Busted for Insurance Fraud - Monday, March 29, 2010 at 04:09AM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday March 29 2010
BRODHEADSVILLE, MONROE COUNTY -- Nine people are facing charges in connection with an insurance fraud scheme in the Poconos. The state attorney general says the suspects took more than $1-million from four insurance agencies.

Believe it or not prosecutors say a majority of the suspect's met at church. They're accused of bilking insurance companies for home healthcare that was never done.

Instead they spent the money on timeshares and Cadillacs. Bianca Bucano and Judi Grate are led into their arraignments in Brodheadsville Monday morning.

State officials say the two women are the masterminds behind a complex insurance fraud scheme. For nearly ten years court papers show the pair billed four insurance companies for home healthcare that was never done for them.

Both women claimed they had fibromyalgia and needed help. Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett said, "Grate and Bucano both claimed medical conditions that required assistance with daily activities, such as bathing, cooking and cleaning."

Seven other people, including Bucano's daughter and son and Grate's niece, were in on the scheme. They allegedly filled out fake forms and invoices for the care that was never provided.

"According to the court documents, these caregivers were working at other jobs, providing home care services to someone else, visiting relatives in prison or were even incarcerated themselves," said Corbett.

Judi Grate's last known address was Birch Hollow Drive in Effort. People here are surprised to hear about the charges against the 59-year-old.

Prosecutors say she used the money to buy a time-share and three Cadillacs. "Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. When people cheat the system, it leads to increased insurance premiums for everyone," added Corbett.

All nine of the suspects are charged with forgery and insurance fraud. They were all released on unsecured bail. They're all expected back in court in late April.