PITTSBURG, Kan. — A 47-year-old woman was charged and sentenced for committing insurance fraud while residing in Crawford County.

Kelly Heiskell pleaded guilty on July 8, 2026, in Crawford County District Court for one felony count of insurance fraud and was sentenced to 24 months of probation on Aug. 26 2026.

Heiskell filed numerous fraudulent medical claims for injuries or visits that neither she nor her child experienced, according to a news release from Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt. In court documents, some of the claims dated back to 2020.

Numerous witnesses from Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, Mercy Hospital Pittsburg and custodial records from Ascension Via Christi were listed in the court documents.

Heiskell also submitted falsified documents that appeared to be provided to her by medical facilities where treatment was allegedly received, according to the news release.

Court documents show that Heiskell was initially charged with one count of forgery, but the charge was dismissed during her plea agreement.

In addition to probation, Heiskell must pay $33,630 restitution to Aflac Insurance.

“Every time someone commits insurance fraud, it causes families and businesses across Kansas to pay more,” Commissioner Vicki Schmidt stated in a news release. “The Department will continue to hold these individuals accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Kansas Department of Insurance and prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.