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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that an Essex County man has been indicted
on charges that he fraudulently reported
that his son had died to collect on a life
insurance policy.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Anthony Myers Sr., 33, of Newark,
was indicted by a Morris County grand jury
on charges of insurance fraud and attempted
theft by deception, both in the third degree,
as well as fourth-degree falsifying records.
The indictment was returned on Aug. 1 but
was handed up in Superior Court today.
The
indictment alleges that between March 21
and May 10, 2006, Myers attempted to steal
$25,000 by submitting a false life insurance
claim to State Farm Insurance Company. According
to the indictment, Myers Sr. falsely claimed
that his son, Anthony Myers Jr., had died.
An investigation determined that Myers Jr.
was not dead, but was alive and living in
North Carolina. In order to substantiate
his claim, Myers Sr. allegedly falsified
a claimant statement that he submitted to
State Farm Insurance Company.
State Investigator Joseph Wirzbicki, Civil
Investigator Joseph Dugan, and Deputy Attorney
General Susan Kase were assigned to the
investigation. Kase presented the case to
the Morris County grand jury.
This
case was referred to OIFP by the Special
Investigative Unit of the State Farm Insurance
Company which initially uncovered the fraud
and assisted OIFP in the investigation.
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Brown thanks
the State Farm Insurance Company for their
involvement in this matter.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Third-degree crimes degree carry
a maximum punishment of five years in state
prison and a criminal fine of $15,000, while
fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum punishment
of 18 months in state prison and a criminal
fine of $10,000. Myers also may face civil
insurance fraud fines.
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