Lunenberg Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud for Attempt to Fraudulently Obtain Life Insurance Proceeds

RICHMOND, VA—Jamie Dwayne Long, 38, of Lunenberg, Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud arising out of his attempt to fraudulently obtain the proceeds of a $750,000 life insurance policy in his name.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael Morehart, special agent in charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Daniel Cortez, inspector in charge of the Washington Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States District Judge Henry E. Hudson.

Long was indicted on January 4, 2012 by a federal grand jury on three counts of mail fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment when he is sentenced on June 8, 2012.

In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Long admitted that he attempted to fraudulently obtain the proceeds of a $750,000 life insurance policy he held with the insurance company Modern Woodmen of America in August 2010. As part of the scheme, an individual identifying himself as Long’s brother-in-law called the insurance company and reported that Long had died in a car accident. The caller then asked that the paperwork necessary to file a claim with the insurance company be sent to a post office box that had been recently opened by Long. To collect on the proceeds, a beneficiary would have had to provide a certified death certificate. In furtherance of the scheme, Long attempted to order a vital records embosser for Prince Edward County. Virginia State Police were later notified of the attempt to do so and uncovered Long’s scheme.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United State Postal Inspection Service, and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Jamie L. Mickelson is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.