Grand Jury Charges Houston Lawyer with Fraud in Silica Settlements

HOUSTON - A federal grand jury on June 27 unsealed a 14-count indictment against Houston lawyer Warren Todd Hoeffner and two employees of The Hartford Insurance Co. over what the government said was a multi-million dollar bribery scheme to induce the carrier to settle silica claims.

The indictment was unsealed after authorities arrested Hoeffner, 42, and former Hartford employees Rachel Rossow, 41, of Redding, Conn., and John Prestage, 36, of Newington, Conn. All three have been released on bond.

The indictment charges that Hoeffner, the general partner of Hoeffner & Bilek law firm, funneled more than $3 million in kickbacks …