OFF BEAT: Cop not above the law in insurance fraud case

A former City of Tracy, Calif., police officer is expected to receive a probation sentence after pleading guilty to insurance fraud for falsely claiming the loss of three Mickey Mantle baseball cards.

Keith Hooks, 43, claimed under a homeowners insurance policy that the cards of the legendary baseball player were worth $20,500, the California Department of Insurance announced.

But the California State Automobile Association Insurance Group grew suspicious of Mr. Hooks' claim after he provided numerous inconsistent statements about how he acquired “The Mick's” cards, their purchase price and how he paid for them.

That led the California Department of Insurance to begin investigating the case in May 2012.

“The dishonesty of insurance fraud is shocking in itself, but the fact that this was perpetrated by a law enforcement officer is heinous and unconscionable,” Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said in a statement.

Mr. Hooks pleaded guilty on Aug. 1 to one felony count of insurance fraud. He was sentenced this week to five years of “conditional probation” and ordered to pay a fine of an undisclosed amount.

He resigned from the City of Tracy Police Department on June 30.