| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: September 24, 2026 Contact: Ethan Holmes [email protected] |
| September 24, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HELENA, Mont. — State Auditor James Brown charged a Billings man with felony criminal insurance fraud for allegedly filing a false claim for losses he reported on several lawnmowers he purported were stolen from him. In July of 2023, Adam Walker stated his truck, trailer, and four lawnmowers were stolen from in front of his residence. Police only ever recovered the truck. Walker reported the items stolen to State Farm, which ultimately paid him $100,000 as a result of the claim. Investigative records show the insurance claim was not supported. In early 2024, the Auditor’s Office received a referral from State Farm for investigation. Auditor Brown’s team began investigating both the authenticity of the serial numbers and the supporting documents provided by Walker as proof he owned the purportedly stolen lawnmowers, as well as to establish their claim value. Investigators from the Auditor’s Office visited a mower dealer, where they accessed a national serial-number database for the lawnmowers reported stolen by Walker. The system showed that the information for the serial numbers provided did not match Walker’s claims. To test whether Walker’s claimed purchase prices were realistic for the mowers, investigators analyzed online marketplace listings for similar mowers in Billings and surrounding areas, which revealed an average asking price of approximately $6,600 – substantially less than the average of $21,700 claimed by Walker. Based on the facts of the case, the Auditor’s Office determined it has probable cause to charge Walker with the felony offense of criminal insurance fraud. “Fraud of any kind or scale will not be tolerated in here in Montana,” Auditor Brown said. “Honest insurance consumers end up bearing the cost of fraudulent claims paid out by insurance companies. Honest policyholders are ultimately the victims of this type of scheme. That is why I have stepped up my office’s criminal and civil prosecution efforts.” Criminal insurance fraud exceeding $1,500 is punishable by up to 20 years in state prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000. Walker is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Montanans who believe they may been the victim of fraud are encouraged to contact the Auditor’s Office at 406-444-2040. Further resources for consumers are available on the agency website, csimt.gov. ### 840 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 (main fax) 406.444.3413 I (securities fax) 406.444.5558 (insurance consumer services fax) 406.444.1980 I (legal fax) 406.444.3499 (phone) 800.332.6148 or 406.444.2040 I (email) [email protected] I (web) www.csimt.gov |
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