Fraud Perpetrators Have Unmitigated Gall

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Kristi Heffington appealed from the revocation of her probation. She argued on appeal that the revocation court’s decision was error even though it was proved that she had sent text messages to herself claiming it came from her past employer dentist who fired her for stealing from his practice and defrauding insurers. In Kristi Heffington v. State Of Maryland, No. 1899, Court Of Special Appeals Of Maryland (July 1, 2021) the appellate court wasted much time dealing with her spurious allegations in an attempt to avoid jail.

ZALMA OPINION

I am always amazed at the unmitigated gall, the “chutzpah,” of those convicted of insurance fraud, who use the courts to spend more time and money than the fraudster stole. Ms. Heffington pleaded guilty to the crime. She was lucky, she only had to serve 9 months of a ten year sentence and leave the dentist she stole from alone. She couldn’t resist. She harassed the dentist and tried to get the court, with false evidence, to remove her obligation to make restitution. She got caught and was sentenced to spend another 9 months and she appealed that. She should have been sentenced to serve the full 10 years. Punishment needs to be real if it is to deter future wrongful actions.