Minnesota woman, ex-husband indicted in fake death scam

Published 9:25 am Friday, February 20, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS — A Twin Cities woman and her ex-husband have been indicted on accusations of defrauding an insurance company of $2 million by faking his death in an eastern European country. 

Forty-seven-year-old Irina Vorotinov, of Plymouth, and 50-year-old Igor Vorotinov, are charged in federal court with mail fraud and a related count. She’s also charged with money laundering. Their 25-year-old son, Alkon Vorotinov, was earlier charged with covering up the scheme.

A criminal complaint says Igor Vorotinov bought a life insurance policy in 2010 and listed his wife and son as beneficiaries. In 2011, Irina Vorotino traveled to Moldova and identified a body as her former husband. Prosecutors say he’s living in Ukraine under a new identity.

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Defense attorney Matt Forsgen declined comment.