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TRENTON
- Attorney General Stuart Rabner and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that a Passaic County man was indicted today
for allegedly selling fake insurance identification
cards and Social Security cards.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Victor Torres, 61, of East 13th Street,
Paterson, was charged in a seven-count state
grand jury indictment with three counts
of third-degree sale of simulated motor
vehicle insurance identification cards,
two counts of second-degree sale of simulated
documents, one count of third-degree sale
of a simulated document and one count of
third-degree receiving stolen property.
The
indictment alleges that between March 7
and Dec. 16, 2003, Torres illegally sold
phony auto insurance identification cards
and Social Security cards. In addition,
it is alleged that Torres possessed a stolen
New Jersey motor vehicle temporary registration
tag.
"Phony insurance identification cards
can sell on the street for anywhere from
$50 to more than $200 each," said Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor Brown. "Rather than
purchasing automobile insurance as required
by law, unscrupulous motorists will buy
a fake insurance card. We will continue
to prosecute those who seek to profit from
this black market."
State
Investigators Johnny Ho and Abe Aquino coordinated
the investigation. Deputy Attorney General
Dennis Kwasnik presented the case to the
state grand jury.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum
punishment of 10 years in state prison and
a criminal fine of $150,000, while third-degree
crimes a maximum punishment of five years
in prison and a fine of $15,000. Torres
also may face civil insurance fraud fines.
A copy of the indictment is attached to
this release at www.njpublicsafety.com.
Prosecutor
Brown noted that people can report information
about insurance fraud anonymously by calling
the toll-free hotline 1-877-55-FRAUD
or visiting the Web at www.NJInsuranceFraud.org.
State regulations permit an award to be
paid to an eligible person who provides
information that leads to an arrest, prosecution
and conviction for insurance fraud.
>> Torres
Indictment (222k pdf) plug-in
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