News Flash

Columbia, S.C. - The South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) and The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) have arrested several people for their role in a large insurance fraud ring in Sumter, South Carolina.

On March 24, 2022, agents assigned to SLED’s Insurance Fraud Unit obtained a total of 32 warrants for 18 different people involved in five separate insurance claims. As of April 6, 2022, all but one of the defendants have been arrested.  The warrants allege the group staged vehicle collisions and then make insurance claims for property damage and personal injuries, at times using false or altered medical and wage-loss documents.  

The alleged ringleader, Tyburious Marquis Heyward, is accused of orchestrating some of these false claims while an inmate in the South Carolina Department of Corrections before his release in April 2021.  Heyward remains at-large and faces warrants for his involvement in all five claims.

The suspected fraud took place between late August 2020 and October 2021 with a total Exposure of $210,922.93 with a total payout of $93,774.28.   

The following individuals are facing insurance fraud charges in connection to the five separate claims:

1. Tyburious Marquis Heyward
   1. This defendant has not yet been taken into custody
2. Shyrem Shadell Williams
   1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
   2. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
   3. Forgery, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
3. Davarious Teshaun Brown
   1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
   2. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
   3. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $2,000 - $10,000 (up to 5 years and/or a fine)
4. Deljuan Talik Shaw
   1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
5. Aminah Samira Hart
   1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
6. Shy Miek Washington
   1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
   2. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $2,000 - $10,000 (up to 5 years and/or a fine)
7. Michael Gerald Leneau
   1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
   2. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $2,000 - $10,000 (up to 5 years and/or a fine)
8. Shalii Daquan Leneau
   1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
   2. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $2,000 - $10,000 (up to 5 years and/or a fine)
9. Brad Le’Var Nelson
   1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
10. Marquise Deonta Arnez Slater
    1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
11. Ar’Terrani Shyni General
    1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
    2. Forgery, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
12. Tyler Cogburn Anderson
    1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
13. Shamaria Tyanna Vanburen
    1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
14. Alexis M. Mosley
    1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
15. Taqwan Omar Sharif Abrams
    1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
16. Calvin Sean Porcher
    1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
17. Oshzhane Keyonna Simon
    1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)
18. Marquis Derriko Pressley
    1. Presenting False Claims for Payment, $10,000 or more (up to 10 years and/or a fine)

Additional claims involving this organization remain under investigation.  

Copies of the corresponding warrants can be found on SLED’s website.

The case will be prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Joshua Underwood, Director of the Insurance Fraud Division within the SCDOI. 

Underwood stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

If you suspect insurance fraud is being committed, you can report it here to the SCDOI or call the Insurance Fraud Hotline at 888-95-FRAUD (888-953-7283).