Forged niece's signature to receive $10,000 death benefit

Contact:  Ronda Sloan 502-564-6098

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 11, 2008) – A Bell County woman pleaded guilty to a felony count of insurance fraud after forging her niece’s signature and claiming to be the child’s guardian in order to receive a $10,000 death benefit from Monumental Life Insurance Co.

After her brother’s death, Robin R. Francisco, 48, who lists her address as Cumberland Gap, Tenn., took the money without the knowledge of the child, who was the beneficiary of the life insurance policy, or the child’s mother, the legal guardian. According to court documents, Francisco admitted that she gave the $10,000 to her own sister.

The case was investigated by KOI’s Insurance Fraud Investigations Division.

By entering the guilty plea, Francisco accepted the commonwealth’s recommendation of five years in prison, probated for five years and ordered to pay restitution of $10,000 to Monumental. In addition, she agreed to cooperate in the ongoing investigation. Final sentencing will be May 5 in Bell Circuit Court.

KOI is an agency of the Department of Public Protection in the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet.