Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte and Insurance Commissioner Roger A. Sevigny today announced the conviction of Donald Rankin for one count of Theft By Deception relative to a workers’ compensation insurance claim.

Rankin, age 53, of Goshen, NH, pled guilty to one count of Theft By Deception, which is a Class A Felony under RSA 637:4, at the Sullivan County Superior Court. He was sentenced by Judge John P. Arnold to 6 months in the House of Corrections and a $4000 fine, both of which were suspended pending the completion of 200 hours of community service, the writing of an apology letter to the insurance carrier, and the payment of $2279.40 in restitution.

“The Insurance Department will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to detect, uncover and prosecute insurance-related crimes in this state. Insurance-related crime costs Americans billions of dollars every year,” said Insurance Commissioner Sevigny. Attorney General Ayotte said “I am committed to ensuring that law-abiding citizens and businesses are not penalized with higher insurance premiums as a result of criminal conduct of others.”

The charges arose while Rankin was receiving workers’ compensation payments from MEMIC, an insurance carrier. From October, 2005 to January, 2006, these payments were made because Rankin purposely created the false impression that he could not work as a truck driver. As a result, Rankin received an overpayment of workers’ compensation benefits totaling $2279.40.

The conviction is the result of a joint effort by the Attorney General’s Office and the Insurance Department Fraud Unit. The Fraud Unit was formed under RSA 417:23 to investigate Insurance Fraud and other insurance-related criminal activity.

Insurance Department Fraud Unit Investigator Karen L. McCallister conducted the Insurance Department’s investigation. The case was prosecuted by Attorney Catherine Tucker.

For further information contact Attorney Catherine Tucker at (603) 271-7987.