LEONARDTOWN, Md. — A Leonardtown man has been issued a criminal summons after Maryland State Police investigators alleged he used another person’s insurance policy to submit two fraudulent vehicle damage claims totaling more than $6,600.
Damont Eric Barnes, 43, was charged in the District Court for St. Mary’s County with two counts of felony theft between $1,500 and $25,000 and two counts of felony identity information fraud.
According to charging documents, Maryland State Police began investigating after a policyholder reported discovering two unfamiliar claims through his GEICO mobile application.
The policyholder told investigators he was traveling out of state with his wife when both incidents allegedly occurred and denied being involved in either collision.
Court documents state the claims caused his monthly insurance premium to increase from $494.96 to $721.70.
Investigators alleged Barnes submitted the claims by posing as the policyholder and using his vehicle and insurance information.
The first claim involved alleged property damage at Chancellor’s Run Regional Park in Lexington Park. The report claimed the policyholder backed into a concession stand and ran over a cellphone that had been left nearby.
Charging documents state a check for $1,832.92 was issued Feb. 6, 2026, to a person purportedly living at a Lexington Park address. Investigators reported finding no Maryland record for that person and determined the listed address was owned by someone else.
A GEICO investigator compared recordings from the person who submitted the claim with the policyholder’s voice and reported significant differences, according to court documents.
The second claim alleged the policyholder rear-ended another vehicle after his truck encountered ice. The report stated that a bicycle attached to the other vehicle was damaged.
Court documents state a check for $4,849.20 was issued Feb. 11, 2026, to a person listed at an Aberdeen address. Investigators again reported finding no Maryland record for the named recipient and determined the property was owned by other individuals.
Investigators also found that the claim included a receipt for a bicycle allegedly purchased at Trek Bicycle in Waldorf. The store and the recipient’s listed address were approximately 74 miles apart, while investigators identified another Trek location about 25 miles from that address.
A GEICO investigative report further noted that photographs of the allegedly damaged bicycle appeared inconsistent with the reported collision. Photos of the insured vehicle reportedly showed no front-end damage.
The policyholder identified Barnes as a possible suspect and told investigators Barnes had previously approached him about submitting a false insurance claim and splitting the payment, charging documents state.
Investigators reported that Barnes had been connected to other insurance fraud investigations involving similar allegations.
Barnes was not arrested in this case. A criminal summons was issued July 25, 2026.
A preliminary inquiry is scheduled for Sept. 4, 2026, in St. Mary’s County District Court.
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