Arrests made in alleged insurance fraud ring

ATLANTA - A Gwinnett County man who is believed to be the ringleader of an insurance fraud ring was arrested Thursday morning at his office in Gainesville.

State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine said Ken Dewberry of Lawrenceville is charged with 30 counts of theft by taking, as well as other charges.

Oxendine said arrest warrants have been issued on 19 suspects in the case and that the scheme collected $995,641 in misappropriated claims from a Japanese insurance company.

Oxendine said Dewberry, 42, worked for Sompo Japan Insurance Company of America at the time the theft occurred - March 1, 2001 to March 30, 2004. In addition to the 30 counts of theft by taking, he also faces charges under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

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