HOUSTON (CN) - A former law office manager was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for submitting more than $3 million in phony claims to auto insurers.
Earlie Dickerson, 41, managed the Bryan, Texas office of Sanjoh & Associates, a Houston law firm, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Prosecutors said that "Dickerson used his position at Sanjoh & Associates to recruit individuals involved in auto accidents to be represented by the Sanjoh law firm. Dickerson sent individuals he recruited to specific clinics where Chase Lindsey was the only chiropractor."
Dickerson agreed to pay Lindsey $2,000 a month to examine and recommend treatment for the accident victims Dickerson sent to him, according to trial testimony.
Co-conspirators Edward Graham and Brittany Jessie then created bills for patient treatments that were never performed, prosecutors said.
"Dickerson used the fraudulent bills as support for settlement demand letters sent to auto insurance companies which caused the insurance companies to issue settlement checks. The scheme resulted in the submission of more than $3 million in false billing claims on which the companies paid out at least $1.2 million during 2007-2009," the U.S. attorney said.
A Houston jury convicted Dickerson in October 2013 after deliberating for four hours.
U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt sentenced Dickerson on Monday. He also ordered Dickerson to pay restitution to the insurers.
Lindsey and Jessie pleaded guilty before trial and were sentenced to 24 and 30 months in federal prison.
The jury convicted Graham alongside Dickerson. His sentencing is set for Oct. 14.
All the defendants live in Bryan.
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