South Kingstown Man Pleads to Health Insurance Fraud Charges

WAKEFIELD – A South Kingstown man has pleaded no contest in Washington County Superior Court to charges of using a family member’s insurance card to pay for his own medical treatment.

Robert Smith, 40, pleaded no contest on Feb. 3 to South Kingstown police charges of health insurance fraud and identity theft. The charges stem from an arrest in September 2010.

Superior Court Associate Justice Edwin Gale ordered Smith to undergo substance abuse counseling, and to pay $450 in assessments. Restitution will be determined at a future hearing in front of a magistrate. In return for Smith’s plea, additional charges of health insurance fraud and larceny greater than $500 were dismissed.

According to South Kingstown police reports included in court files, they received a complaint from a family member of Smith that had been a victim of fraud. According to the man, someone had used his health insurance card to get treated at South County Hospital.

By tracing hospital records, police determined that Smith had used the card in March, May and June, for charges of $3,358.82, $999 and $1,021.68, respectively. The family member found out that he was a victim of fraud when he tried to use his card and was declined by the hospital because of an outstanding bill.

When questioned by police in September, Smith confessed to using his family member’s card. He said he took it out of a dresser drawer.

All information is compiled from records at Fourth Division District Court and Washington County Superior Court.