Women admit staging fake accidents in insurance scam

Three Michigan City women have admitted they staged car crashes to collect insurance money.
According to court records unsealed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Hammond, Shanise Kelley, 30; Holly McManus, 33, and Gladys Merriweather, 48, were all charged in July with taking part in the scheme, which appears to have lasted for at least several years.Federal attorneys say Merriweather started the scheme in April 2006 and continued until May 2009; McManus and Kelley joined in December 2006. McManus continued with the scheme until January 2009, prosecutors allege, but Kelley is charged with continuing only until January 2007. At least two fake car crashes were staged, although it was unclear if all three women took part in both of them.