By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
An Arden Arcade woman has been sentenced to two years in state prison and her husband to six months in county jail for felony insurance fraud.
In August, a Sacramento Superior Court jury convicted Joanne and Steven Fawcett of making false statements regarding an insurance claim.
Joanne Fawcett was also found guilty on two counts of falsifying insurance claim documents, according to a Sacramento County District Attorney's Office news release. The Fawcetts were sentenced by Superior Court Judge Jack Sapunor.
In April 2007, Joanne Fawcett, 63, claimed that while walking in a parking lot, she was hit by a vehicle that injured her left knee. She told insurance representatives that as a result, she suffered constant "knife-like" pain, walked with a limp and would never be able to work again.
Steven Fawcett, 64, confirmed his wife's claims, and made numerous false statements to insurance company representatives, according to the news release.
An investigation produced a video of Joanne Fawcett showing no signs of physical debilitation as she worked for two property management companies cleaning rental properties. The video showed her walking briskly, climbing stairs and carrying boxes of cleaning supplies with full use of her left leg.
Officials said she also is shown with a younger man moving a refrigerator without a dolly or hand truck.
Staff members of the property management companies testified that they saw Joanne Fawcett perform these physical tasks. They also said that she insisted all paperwork and income be listed in her husband's name.
The Department of Insurance investigation found Joanne Fawcett had filed at least 24 injury claims since the mid-1990s, costing insurance companies more than $450,000.
According to the Department of Insurance, such insurance fraud adds the equivalent of a $500 tax to every man, woman and child in the state of California each year.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
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