Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, any person authorized under this article to initiate and conduct investigations may submit complaints directly to a magistrate after review and approval by the prosecuting attorney, if the complaint is related to the business of insurance and may be prosecuted as a criminal violation under this chapter; chapter twenty-three of this code; article three, chapter sixty-one of this code; or section five, article four of said chapter.
The complaint shall be in the form of a written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged. The complaint shall be presented to and sworn before a magistrate in the county where the offense is alleged to have occurred.
If it appears from the complaint, or from an affidavit or affidavits filed with the complaint, that there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and that the defendant committed it, a warrant for the arrest of the defendant shall be issued to any officer authorized by law to arrest persons charged with offenses against the state.
Structure West Virginia Code
Article 41. West Virginia Insurance Fraud Prevention Act
§33-41-1. Short Title; Legislative Findings and Purpose
§33-41-3. Fraud Warning Authorized; Statement Required of Nonadmitted Insurers
§33-41-4. Authority of the Commissioner; Use of Special Assistant Prosecutors
§33-41-6. Immunity From Liability
§33-41-8. Creation of Insurance Fraud Unit; Purpose; Duties; Personnel Qualifications
§33-41-8a. Fingerprinting and Background Check for Applicants for Employment With Fraud Unit
§33-41-8b. Fraud Investigators May Present Complaint Directly to Magistrate
§33-41-9. Other Law-Enforcement or Regulatory Authority
§33-41-11. Fraudulent Insurance Acts; Interference and Participation of Convicted Felons Prohibited
§33-41-11a. Insurer Antifraud Initiatives
§33-41-12. Civil and Criminal Penalties; Injunctive Relief; Employment Disqualification; Restitution