News : Vinton-area care provider arrested for theft, forgery and identity theft

A 51-year-old Vinton woman has been arrested for a variety of felonies as part of an ongoing investigation into cases of fraud and theft by a care provider.

Deanna D. Seevell has been charged with the Class D felonies of second degree theft, identity theft (two counts), second degree fraudulent practices; and two aggravated misdemeanors, forgery and tampering with records.

Trial information documents filed this week in Benton County District Court alleges that Seevell, while serving as a caregiver for a local resident, filed claims with Medicare for services she did not provide to that patient. She is also accused of forging a patient’s signature on a check from an insurance company and destroying documents related to these crimes. The second-degree nature of the crimes indicates that Seevell gained more than $1,000 but less than $10,000 from these actions.

Seevell, a Consumer-Directed Attendant Care (CDAC) provider,had multiple clients and there are multiple victims in this case, which police continue to investigate, said Vinton Police Chief Jeff Tilson.