Wife of man accused of faking death faces federal charges

Published: Updated:
MGN Online

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – The wife of a man who authorities say faked his own death to defraud insurance companies out of millions is facing a federal fraud charge.

The Florida Times-Union reports that 58-year-old Daphne Simpson was named Wednesday in a one-count court filing describing her role in a conspiracy to fake Jose Lantigua’s death and collect millions from a string of life insurance companies.

According to authorities and insurance companies, Lantigua faked his own death in Venezuela in 2013 so the family could claim millions in life insurance payments.

Lantigua was arrested in March 2015 in North Carolina after getting caught applying for a passport in another man’s name. Simpson was jailed on state charges in Florida several days later, but prosecutors have turned the case over to federal officials. Simpson faces additional federal charges in North Carolina.

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