Sumter man gets 5 years' probation for insurance fraud

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South Carolina Attorney Gen. Alan Wilson announced Friday the guilty plea and sentencing of a Sumter man accused of being a part of a "large insurance fraud ring," according to a release. Jair Hakeem Golden, 21 pleaded guilty April 12 to presenting a false claim for payment greater than $10,000 in a South Carolina courtroom. Third Circuit Court Judge R. Ferrell Cothran gave Golden a sentence under the Youthful Offender Act not to exceed six years. Cothran suspended the sentence to five years' probation. Golden was ordered to pay %16,564.12 in restitution as a condition of his probation. Probation may terminate upon the payment of restitution, Cothran also ordered. Jason Bridges of the Sumter County Public Defender’s Office represented Golden. “Insurance fraud is a real problem in South Carolina that raises all of our rates,” Wilson said. “Our office will continue to go after these criminals.” Golden was approached by co-defendant and cousin Demarkus Lane. Lane asked Golden if he wanted to make some money. All Lane needed Golden to do was use his name to cash a check. Lane allegedly staged a car wreck on Feb. 6. 2017. on Bagnal Drive nad Oswego Highway in Sumter County. Lane went for treatment at the hospital, but he told the facility his name was Jair Golden. Subsequently, the hospital sent the bills to Golden. After receiving the bills, the two men went to the Geico claims office and presented a claim for the amount of $16,564.12. Geico wrote Golden a check, and he signed for and cashed it. Lane is also charged in this case with presenting a false claim for payment greater than $10,000; making a false statement or representation in the amount of $10,000 to $50,000; and forgery of a value greater than $10,000. He also has three additional counts of presenting a false claim for payment and forgery pending. "There are more than 30 other co-defendants in this insurance fraud ring," said Wilson. "The cases were investigted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division."