Judge sentences man convicted of insurance fraud to 41 years
A man who pleaded guilty to staging more than 200 fake auto accidents in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas to collect insurance claims has been sentenced to 41 years in federal prison.
Bruce Howard Bryant, 46, was a fugitive for nearly 10 years. He fled shortly before his indictment in August 1992 for schemes that involved 110 people either arranging or participating in wrecks.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Smith said Bryant fled to Belize, and apparently spent much of his time out of the country. He was trying to cross the Mexican border into Texas when he was arrested Oct. 7. He pleaded guilty to mail fraud on Jan. 8.
At Bryant’s sentencing Friday, U.S. District Judge Jimm Larry Hendren also ordered him to serve three years’ probation after leaving prison, and to pay $197,258.08 in restitution to insurance companies that paid property damage claims or settlements to motorists who faked injuries.
Smith said Bryant was a key player in arranging the scams, which occurred between October 1989 and February 1992, Smith said. Sometimes Bryant was a motorist who faked injury.