Case involving U-Haul rental nets 1 conviction, 2 awaiting trial, 2 still wanted

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr today released the following statement announcing the felony conviction of a Little Rock woman for insurance fraud in a case involving a reported car accident involving a U-Haul rental vehicle and fraudulent insurance claims:

“I am very proud of the work by our Criminal Investigation Division for securing a felony conviction against those staging fake vehicle crashes in order to file fraudulent insurance claims to collect a check.  This is a serious issue that places hardworking Arkansans at risk on the roadways while attacking their pocketbooks through increased costs and higher premiums.”

Chemer Beene, 35, of Little Rock was sentenced Monday in Pulaski County Circuit Court to 36 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for her participation in a 2015 scheme to collect insurance payouts from Repwest Insurance Company from a purported vehicle crash. 

On September 30 of last year, Schanise Allen, 37, of Little Rock rented a U-Haul vehicle, purchasing the “Safe Move” insurance plan offered through Repwest.  Later that evening, Allen reported that she rear-ended a Dodge Challenger driven by Johnathan Summons, 32, of Little Rock on Scott Hamilton Drive in Little Rock.  Beene was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Summons.  She was joined in the vehicle by Marquis Jones, 20, of Little Rock and Hilary Johnson, 19, of Little Rock.  All five individuals made medical claims against Repwest from the reported accident with Summons also submitting a claim for damage to the rear left bumper of his vehicle.

Eight days prior to the accident, Summons filed a separate claim for rear left bumper damage to his vehicle with a separate insurance company, submitting pictures documenting the same damage attributed to the September 30 wreck.  Allen told investigators she did not know any of the passengers in Summons’ vehicle while Johnson, Jones, and Beene said they did not know Allen.  Investigators later determined that Allen and Beene lived across the street from each other and that Beene and Jones are Facebook friends with Allen.  Warrants for felony insurance fraud were issued against all five individuals.

Jones was arrested on September 17 in England and is awaiting trial in Pulaski County Circuit Court.  Summons is being detained on an unrelated charge and is awaiting trial.  Allen and Johnson remain at-large.