Halstead Fraud Investigator Named Investigator of the Year 9/14/02 NICB AGENT NAMED "INVESTIGATOR OF THE YEAR" BY INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE UNITSInstrumental in Busting Countrywide Fraud Scam by Chiropractors PALOS HILLS, IL ‚ Lewis D. "Dennie" Huggins, a special agent of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, received the Investigator of the Year Award from the International Association of Special Investigative Units (IASIU). The award recognizes the positive impact a fraud investigator¼s efforts had on their special investigative unit, company, the insurance industry and community in addition to the unique and exceptional qualities of the investigation. IASIU is an association of insurance fraud investigators that promotes a coordinated industry effort to combat fraud, provides education and training for insurance investigators, develops greater awareness of the fraud problem, encourages higher professional standards among investigators and supports legislation that deters the crime of insurance fraud. The West Virginia-based NICB, newly promoted to Area Director, Dennie Huggins was cited for his outstanding efforts in uncovering a countrywide fraud scam of nearly 700 chiropractic clinics in 35 states involving an estimated $50 million in bogus claims. Working in close coordination with other NICB agents, NICB member company Special Investigative Units and the FBI, Huggins uncovered the "Halstead" system, named after the chiropractor consultant who developed it. The scam involved chiropractors who were taught to set up multiple corporations that used a medical doctor to allow the chiropractor to bill under the medical doctor¼s CPT code, generating greater revenues than if the proper code had been used. Huggins was cited for using innovative techniques and participating in undercover operations that involving inserting people into chiropractic clinics as patients. The evidence generated during these operations was so compelling that a number of clinic operators entered guilty pleas rather than be humiliated at trial. Huggins¼ tenacity and dedication was recognized for overcoming numerous obstacles, assembling and pouring over mountains of data evidence and coordinating investigative efforts across several states. "NICB is proud of Denny Huggins¼ outstanding achievement, consummate professionalism and incredible determination," said Robert M. Bryant, president and chief executive officer. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is the nation¼s premier not-for-profit organization dedicated exclusively to fighting insurance fraud and theft for the benefit of its customers and the public through information analysis, forecasting, criminal investigation support, training and public awareness. The NICB is supported by approximately 1,000 property/casualty insurance companies. For more information about NICB and insurance fraud, visit www.nicb.org.