A former McQueeney Volunteer Fire Department chief was arrested last week on charges of insurance fraud.
The Guadalupe County Grand Jury indicted Michael John Wiedner, 39, of New Braunfels, on one count of insurance fraud between $30,000 and $150,000 and two counts of insurance fraud between $2,500 and $30,000, according to court records obtained by the Seguin Gazette.
The indictment was handed up at the July grand jury session and Wiedner was arrested Friday, October 6, the document said. He was booked into the Guadalupe County Jail and released the following day on $15,000 bonds, according to online jail records.
Wiedner is accused of submitting three false insurance claims to VFIS A Division of Glatfelter Insurance Group, according to the indictment.
The first claim was filed on 2 August 2022, when Wiedner submitted a claim for lost medical equipment, the document states.
“In a claim for payment under an insurance policy, submitted to VFIS, a division of Glatfelter Insurance Group, a statement that the defendant knew contained false or misleading material information, namely that the McQueeney Volunteer Fire Department was involved in a kayak rescue and a medical bag containing a LIFEPAK 15 fell into the water and was lost, the value of the claim being $30,000 or more but less than $150,000,” the indictment said.
The second claim came a day later for a Motorola radio that was reportedly damaged in a large wildfire, according to the document. The third claim was made on 23 November 2022 for a radio and night-vision goggles that were damaged when a member of the department was pulled into the water during a rescue, the document states. Both claims were for more than $2,500 but less than $30,000, according to the document.
Insurance fraud between $30,000 and $150,000 is a third-degree felony and, if found guilty, is punishable by 2 to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Insurance fraud between $2,500 and $30,000 is a state prison felony and, if found guilty, is punishable by 180 to 2 years in state prison and a possible fine up to $10,000.
Guadalupe County Attorney David Willborn, whose office is prosecuting the case, said he couldn’t comment on open investigations or pending cases.
Wiedner resigned as McQueeney’s volunteer fire chief in June, said Deputy Fire Chief Ray Salas, who served as interim chief until an election was held. J. Harmon Jr. was elected chief, Salas said.
Salas referred any questions about Wiedner or the charges he faces to Harmon.
The former fire chief’s arrest will not affect the fire department’s work in the community, Guadalupe County Fire Marshal Patrick Pinder said.
“This area will continue to be served by this department,” he said. “The arrest of former Chief Wiedner has no impact on fire protection for the citizens of the county. Guadalupe County still has an active and current contract with the McQueeney Volunteer Fire Department and we will continue to provide that service to the members of the community.
The Lake McQueeney Volunteer Fire Department serves a 21 square mile area that includes Lake McQueeney, Lake Dunlap, portions of FM 725 between Lake Dunlap and Interstate 10, and a portion of FM 78 between Seguin and Marion.
