Insurance case ends in guilty plea

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1997 | 4:26 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- David J. Stoner, 27, pleaded guilty in Clark County District Court Monday to a charge of making a false insurance claim in excess of $12,000.

District Judge Joseph Bona-venture set Feb. 11 for sentencing.

Stoner reported to the North Las Vegas police in October 1996 that his home had been burglarized and some items stolen. He then sought to collect for the loss from State Farm Insurance Co.

An investigation by the Attorney General's Insurance Fraud Unit and the National Insurance Crime Bureau revealed Stoner had falsified the burglary report. It also was discovered that Stoner hid the reported stolen property at a friend's house.

State Farm never paid any of Stoner's claim.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said insurance fraud is a growing problem in Nevada.

"We all pay the price for insurance fraud through higher cost to obtain and maintain insurance coverage," she said.

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