Woman Who Bilked Insurance Company While Faking Leukemia Pleaded Guilty to Mail Fraud Charges
A South Carolina woman faked having terminal leukemia in order to collect insurance money. She was arrested in September 2012. She pled guilty to one count of mail fraud, which is a serious federal offense.
Jennifer Eden’s mail fraud charge has led her to be sentenced to 3 years in prison, and a restitution fine of $500,000. However, she has stalled her prison sentence with further concerns about her health.
Prosecutors say that, between 2003 and 2011, Eden pretended to have terminal leukemia in order to collect insurance money, and ended up with $1.4 million in fraudulently-earned cash. She obtained life insurance policies for herself, then falsely claimed to be dying from leukemia. She would then either apply to collect the insurance money prior to her “death,” or sell the policies to a broker, who then resold them to investors in Asia.
During the eight years of her insurance and mail fraud scheme, Eden lived “a lavish lifestyle,” which included driving a Jaguar. She currently lives in Myrtle Beach, SC.
However, Eden’s current husband said that she was under the influence of an abusive boyfriend at the time.
US District Court Judge David Norton sentenced Eden to pay $500,000 in restitution to the insurance companies, and serve 3 years and 5 months behind bars.
Mail Fraud Perpetrator Uses Health As Excuse Again
Eden, however, said that before she went to jail, she needed time to figure out if the detention center could adequately treat her current blood disorder.
In federal court in Charleston, SC, Eden showed a bruise on her left arm, which is apparently related to a type of rare blood disorder she suffers from. According to a neuropsychologist who testified for her, Eden’s blood disorder can cause mini-strokes and impair mental functioning.
Eden said she needed to know if the detention center she was sent to could handle treatment of her disease. “I’m terrified if I go to jail, I don’t get my (blood) testing I need weekly and that scares me because it needs to be tested weekly,” she said, choking back tears.
Judge Norton said that the court sent all of Eden’s medical records – in a 3-inch thick binder – to the Bureau of Prisons to ensure her detention center could care for her. The Bureau of Prisons assured the court they were up to the task. Selecting a prison should take no more than 30 days.
“We don’t put a lot of stock in what she says,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhett DeHart said. “She’s lied about her medical conditions in the past.”
“She lied to a judge in another proceeding; lied to get what she wanted,” Judge Norton said.
Eden even used her blood disorder to put off sentencing for two months. She was originally supposed to receive her sentence for mail fraud in February, but she brought in a doctor to testify that her current condition prevented her from going to just any prison.
She will be out on bail until the Bureau of Prisons can find a facility that can treat her.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help With Mail Fraud and Other Serious Federal Charges
If you have been charged with mail fraud, the Strom Law Firm can help. Our legal team collectively has over 30 years’ experience with both state and federal law. We handle your case with utmost discretion, exploring every viable strategy to secure a most favorable outlook. If you have been charged with mail fraud, wire fraud, or another federal crime, do not hesitate. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case with impunity. 803.252.4800
