(Woodland, CA) – March 6, 2019- District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced today that on February 21, 2019, 48-year-old Davis woman, Megan Watkins, was convicted of two separate DUI’s, filing a fraudulent auto insurance claim, and violation of her DUI probation.
On June 11, 2018, Megan Watkins, filed a claim with National General Insurance indicating she had struck a pole while driving her 2015 Chevy Camaro. Watkins further indicated the front right side of her vehicle sustained damage as a result of the collision which occurred near her residence in Davis, CA. When asked if Watkins had contacted the Davis Police Department in regard to the collision Watkins stated she did not.
National General reviewed the damage sustained to the Camaro and found it was not consistent with striking a pole. After further investigating this claim, National General learned Watkins had struck a vehicle, fled the scene of the collision, and had been arrested for DUI on June 7th, 2018, by the Davis Police Department.
National General confronted Watkins where she admitted she did not strike a pole and she instead struck a vehicle. Watkins further stated she had been drinking at a party prior to the collision occurring and had lied in an attempt to have her vehicle repaired. National General Insurance Company denied this claim since Watkins misrepresented material facts during the presentation of the claim.
On January 10, 2019, while she was still on probation for a 2017 DUI, Watkins entered no-contest pleas to two separate violations of misdemeanor DUI and a felony violation of filing a fraudulent auto insurance claim. On February 21, 2019, the Honorable Judge David Rosenberg placed Watkins on three years formal probation. She was ordered to serve a total of 275 days in the county jail, attend and successfully complete an outpatient treatment program, and pay a restitution of $1,215 to National General Insurance.
Insurance Fraud is the second most costly white-collar crime in America behind tax evasion. Insurance industry studies show that about ten percent or more of property/casualty claims are fraudulent. Add it all up and insurance fraud costs Americans billions of dollars each year. District Attorney Jeff Reisig stated that, “Filing false insurance claims and insurance fraud have an effect on the rising cost of auto insurance for everyone. We are committed to investigating and prosecuting this type of fraud in our community.”
If you suspect someone is committing Auto Insurance Fraud please contact the DA’s Fraud Hotline phone number at (855) 496-5632. Reports of suspected fraud can also be made online at www.yoloda.org. The District Attorney’s Office also has a “Fraud Reporting E-mail Address”: Fraud@yoloda.org.
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