Gwinnett Residents Ripped Off Insurance Firm: Authorities

ATLANTA, GA — State authorities are asking the public for tips to track down two Gwinnett County residents accused of insurance fraud. The Georgia Department of Insurance alleges that Christopher Dewayne Miller, 30, of Dacula, and Zulieka Hosch, 37, of Lawrenceville, defrauded an insurance company by submitting false receipts for merchandise they claimed was stolen.

Both have been charged with insurance fraud, and Hosch also has been charged with first-degree forgery, Georgia Insurance Commissioner John F. King said in a statement.

The insurance department alleges that on May 2, Miller submitted purchase receipts from two local department stores, Nordstrom and Michael Kors, to Lemonade Insurance Co. to fraudulently obtain an insurance payment based on a theft claim. Lemonade Insurance is based in New York City.

On April 29, the department says, Hosch submitted a theft claim to Lemonade Insurance based on fraudulent purchase receipts from Walmart, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Von Maur and Sunglass Hut.

The Von Maur receipt was found to be forged, the department said, as the items listed on the receipt were never purchased.

“Insurance fraud is a very serious offense," King said. "Not only does it impact the individual or company that was taken advantage of, it also impacts policyholders in the form of increased premiums.”

He asked that anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Miller and Hosch to call the department's Criminal Investigations Division at 800-656-2298. Callers can choose to remain anonymous.

Insurance fraud is a felony in Georgia punishable by imprisonment for two to 10 years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.