JACKSON, Miss., Oct. 17 -- The Mississippi Attorney General issued the following news release:

A Heidelberg resident will serve three years in prison for insurance fraud, announced Attorney General Jim Hood today.

Terrell McAndrews, 31, of Heidelberg appeared before Judge Billy Joe Landrum in Jones County Circuit CourtOctober 11 and pleaded guilty to one count of insurance fraud. Judge Landrum sentenced McAndrews to the maximum three years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections and ordered him to pay $100 to the Attorney General's Crime Victim Compensation Fund, a $500 fine, $3,605.64 in restitution plus $2,400 to the State General Fund for the cost of the investigation pursuant to Mississippi Code Section 7-5-309.

The Attorney General's investigation revealed that McAndrews filed a false claim in an attempt to defraud State Farm Insurance Company by claiming his 2006 Nissan Sentra had been stolen. McAndrews admitted to being behind on his car payments and then intentionally setting fire to the vehicle in order to collect the insurance money.

"We appreciate Judge Landrum imposing the maximum sentence in this case to help send the message that insurance fraud will not be tolerated in Mississippi," said Attorney General Hood.

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Larry Baker and investigated by Jerry Spell of the Attorney General's Public Integrity Division/Insurance Fraud Unit.

TNS C-Santpan-Santpan 121018-4072979 71Santosh