Valdosta Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud

United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Michael J. Moore, has announced that a 70 year old Coolidge man officially received his federal sentence for wire fraud on October 28, 2013 in Valdosta, Georgia.  John Dewey Morris’ sentence of five years probation was handed down by Senior United States District Judge Hugh Lawson. Morris was also ordered by the court to pay $131,443 in total restitution to Progressive Insurance and Auto Owners Insurance.

John Morris entered a guilty plea to one count of wire fraud in July and admitted to causing fraudulent insurance claims to be filed on a truck and wood chipper owned by his companies Beeline Wood Products, Inc. and Big Bend Timber Services.  Morris also admitted to knowing the truck and wood chipper that he had reported stolen in Thomas County, Georgia, had instead been cut up and sold for parts and scrap metal at his request

“When people defraud insurance companies, they end up hurting every honest policyholder by subjecting them to increased insurance rates to help offset the effect of the fraud,” said United States Attorney Michael Moore.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. McCullers was the prosecuting attorney.