Kansas City employees and phony marathoners plead guilty to fraud
When Michael King worked for the Kansas City Water Department, he must have been one hell of an athlete. He told the city’s health insurer Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City in December 2010 that he completed three duathlons, three marathons, two half marathons, one Olympic lifting competition, and four triathlons.
That’s a pretty impressive list of accomplishment, and it’s a load of crap. King pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud charges for lying about his athletic activities to get cash reward cards from Blue Cross. As part of a Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas City rewards program, people with the insurance – including city employees – were rewarded for physical activity with reward cards valued up to $250. King pleaded guilty to making up athletic events for himself and 51 other employees to reap 79 cards worth a total of $12,745.
