July 21

RICHMOND - Four Richmond-area residents were recognized today for their efforts in stamping out insurance fraud in Virginia. The Virginia State Police (VSP) Insurance Fraud Division (IFD) presented awards to Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent R. Dale Garvin, Assistant United States Attorney David T. Maguire and VSP Senior Special Agent Raymond A. Seal. Judith M. Parsons, who previously worked with Sentry/Dairyland Insurance Company and is now a National Grange Insurance employee, also was recognized.

(left to right) Special Agent R. Dale Garvin, Assistant United States Attorney David T. Maguire, Judith M. Parsons and Senior Special Agent Raymond A. Seal.

The awards were presented during ceremonies at a meeting of the Virginia Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units held at the Virginia State Police Academy.

All four individuals worked on a case involving Millard Thomas and his wife, Sharon Germain Thomas. Investigation revealed that since 1990 the Thomases reported accidents or injuries on 28 occasions to various insurance companies. The injuries were the result of single vehicle "phantom" crashes or slip and fall accidents.

On April 29, 2002, U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne sentenced Millard Thomas to concurrent sentences of five years for mail fraud and 87 months for health care fraud. He also was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $215,000 to victims of his fraud schemes.

Sharon Germain Thomas, pled guilty to mail fraud in November, 2001, but received a sentence of five years probation only, with no jail time, because of her cooperation with authorities. She was ordered to pay $82,118 in restitution.

Captain Frank A. Williams, Assistant Director of the VSP Bureau of Criminal Investigation, said, "We are grateful to all who worked on bringing this case to justice and pleased to recognize the special efforts of Special Agents Garvin and Seal, Attorney Maguire and Ms. Parsons."