After years as an embedded insurance fraud prosecutor for the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) in Dallas County, Patrick Cryer is beginning a new chapter in Austin as TDI’s chief prosecutor and fraud counsel.
This change marks a new phase in Cryer’s career where he aims to strengthen fraud prosecution efforts across the state.
While prosecuting fraud in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, Cryer developed a passion for fighting back against insurance fraud, seeing it as a crime that affects all Texans by raising premiums and costs for policyholders. He’s expressed his belief that by holding fraud offenders accountable, consumers can be protected while the integrity of Texas' insurance system is maintained at the same time.
“We're all affected by fraud,” Cryer said in a press release. “We see it every time we pay our insurance bill.”
In his new position, Cryer also aims to extend these efforts to rural areas, where insurance fraud cases may go unaddressed. Additionally, he plans to raise awareness about the importance of combating insurance fraud, emphasizing its impact on public spending and consumer premiums.
“I'd like to see if there are cases sitting in boxes gathering dust,” he said. “If we can move those forward, I'd like to see that happen. People are realizing fraud affects them — not just through tax dollars, but through their insurance premiums as well.”
For Cryer, TDI’s embedded prosecutor model has been an important part of that mission. Working within a district attorney’s office while remaining dedicated exclusively to insurance fraud allows prosecutors to focus on complex financial investigations that might otherwise compete with higher-profile criminal cases. That dedicated focus helps ensure insurance fraud cases continue moving forward and that those who commit fraud are held accountable, he added.