Cavanagh appeal denied
Former legislative candidate Michael Cavanagh’s appeal of his insurance fraud conviction has been denied. Cavanagh, who has been free on bail pending the result of that appeal, was convicted last year of attempting to bilk an insurance company out of $1,373 in 1998.
The conviction stemmed from accusations by the state attorney general that he fraudulently submitted bills for work done to a rental car that was damaged during an accident in Maryland in 1996.
Cavanagh of Uniontown was convicted of insurance fraud, theft by deception, forgery and tampering with records and sentenced to two to 23 months in jail by Fayette County Judge Ralph C. Warman.
While the accident happened in Maryland, Cavanagh reportedly made the calls to Allstate Insurance Co. seeking reimbursement for the repairs to the vehicle from his home in Uniontown.
He also reportedly falsified documents detailing work done to the car. Allstate denied the claim because the representative thought it was suspicious.
A representative from the Attorney General’s office could not be reached to see if there were any plans to move to revoke Cavanagh’s bail since the appeal was denied on Dec. 23. Before Cavanagh was free on $20,000 percentage bond, he served two weeks in prison on Warman’s sentence.
Cavanagh has mounted two unsuccessful runs for the state House of Representatives, running first against state Rep. James Shaner (D-Dunbar) and then against state Rep. Larry Roberts (D-South Union Twp).