Mandan Woman Faces Felony Charges in $98,000 Medical Insurance Fraud Case
A 58-year-old Mandan woman is facing serious legal consequences after allegedly orchestrating a sophisticated medical insurance fraud scheme. Tammy Urness has been charged with one count of felony insurance fraud after Burleigh County prosecutors allege she defrauded the insurance company AFLAC of more than $98,000.
- Defendant: Tammy Urness, 58, of Mandan, ND.
- Amount Involved: Over $98,000.
- Victim: AFLAC insurance company.
- Core Allegation: Filing 13 fraudulent claims for medical services never received.
- Potential Penalty: Up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
The Mechanics of the Fraud
According to court documents and investigations by the North Dakota Insurance Department, Urness filed 13 fraudulent claims between June 2023 and February 2025. These claims targeted her accident, cancer, hospital, and specified event policies. To make the claims appear legitimate, Urness allegedly altered hospital documents, converting them into PDFs at her place of employment.
Investigators further discovered that Urness utilized her husband’s name and accounts in some instances to facilitate the fraudulent payments. When questioned, Urness’s husband stated that she claimed she committed the fraud to pay off credit card bills, noting that she did not realize the severity of the crime.
Medical Providers Debunk Claims
The fraud was uncovered after AFLAC suspected irregularities and requested an investigation in June 2023. To verify the claims, investigators contacted several healthcare providers, all of whom denied providing the services Urness claimed:
- Sanford Health: Denied that Urness was treated on the dates she claimed to have suffered strokes requiring ICU treatment. They likewise refuted a claim from June 2023 regarding treatment for a tick bite.
- CHI St. Alexius: Confirmed they had not seen Urness at any of their facilities since 2022, contradicting claims filed in May 2025.
- Capital Chiropractic & Spinal Rehabilitation Center, P.C.: Stated that Urness was not seen in December 2024, despite her claims to the contrary.
Legal Proceedings and Current Status
Urness was officially charged in January 2026. On March 11, 2026, she pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
In a separate development, Urness was reported missing on April 2, 2026. She was located and reported safe by police two days later on April 4. Neither the Mandan nor Bismarck police departments have provided a reason for her brief disappearance.
A jury trial for the insurance fraud case is currently scheduled for June 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific policies were targeted in this fraud?
Urness allegedly filed fraudulent claims against her accident, cancer, hospital, and specified event policies with AFLAC.
How did the defendant alter the documents?
Court documents indicate that Urness admitted to investigators that she altered hospital records by turning them into PDFs while at her place of employment.
What is the current legal status of the case?
Tammy Urness has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting a jury trial scheduled for June 3.
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