DETROIT (WWJ) -- A man and woman from Detroit could spend decades behind bars if convicted as charged in a disability fraud case.
According to the Michigan Attorney General's Office, Between 2016 and 2022, 42-year-old Tukua Young allegedly filed three fraudulent claims with an insurance company, receiving $55,952.70.
In 2019 and 2020, her husband, 36-year-old Brandon Young, allegedly filed two similar fraudulent claims with the same insurer and received $70,434.
Both defendants allegedly claimed to be disabled from working at a group home that the AG's office said "reportedly does not exist."
Tukua Young then, in 2022, allegedly filed another claim with a different insurance company, receiving $23,105.73, while falsely claiming to be disabled. He was still working at that time.
The couple was charged by the Michigan Attorney Genera's Office in March. Department of Attorney General in March.
On Monday, the Youngs waived their preliminary examination and were bound over to stand trial in the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County.
Tukua Young was bound over to stand trial on:
- One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony;
- One count of False Pretenses $20,000-$50,000, a 15-year felony;
- Two counts of False Pretenses $1,000-$20,000, a 5-year felony;
- Two counts of Insurance-Fraudulent Acts, a 4-year felony; and
- Five counts of Taxes – Making/Permitting False Statement, a 5-year felony.
Brandon Young was bound over to stand trial on:
- One count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise, a 20-year felony;
- Two counts of False Pretenses $20,000-$50,000, a 15-year felony;
- Two counts of Insurance-Fraudulent Acts, a 4-year felony; and
- Two counts of Taxes – Failure to File, a 5-year felony.
“I appreciate the prosecutors in my office and DIFS’ Fraud Investigation Unit for their efforts that resulted in this case being bound over to stand trial,” Michigan AG Dana Nessel said, in a news release. “We will continue to leverage this partnership to prosecute those who commit insurance fraud.”
Suspected insurance fraud can be reported to DIFS safely, easily and, in most cases, anonymously by calling 877-999-6442 or online by visiting DIFS' website.