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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that an Atlantic County man has been indicted
for allegedly giving false testimony in
connection with a criminal trial.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Francisco Diaz Jr., 33, of Williamstown,
was indicted yesterday by an Atlantic County
grand jury on a third-degree charge of perjury.
The
indictment alleges that on May 24, 2005,
Diaz offered perjured testimony in connection
with the criminal trial of Samuel Siligato
in Atlantic County. Specifically, it is
alleged that in an evidentiary hearing before
Superior Court Judge Albert J. Garofolo,
Diaz testified that persons “partying”
with drugs caused a commercial building
located at 801 South Whitehorse Pike in
Winslow Township to burn down. Contrary
to Diaz’ testimony, the New Jersey
State Police Arson Unit and the Camden County
Fire Marshall determined that the fire resulted
from arson.
On Sept. 7, 2006, Siligato, 57, of Hammonton,
was sentenced by Judge Garofolo to 11 years
in prison. Siligato was convicted at trial
on July 24, 2006 of charges of attempted
theft by deception and conspiracy, as well
as two counts of witness tampering. The
Atlantic County jury found Siligato conspired
to steal more than $180,000 from First Trenton
Insurance Company by submitting false property
damage claims after the fire in Winslow
Township. Siligato was released from prison
in February pending appeal of his conviction.
State
Investigators Robert Stemmer and Joseph
Salvatore, Civil Investigator Kenneth Fraize
and Assistant Attorney General Lewis J.
Korngut were assigned to the investigation.
Korngut represented the Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor before the Atlantic County
grand jury.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum
punishment of five years in state prison
and a criminal fine of up to $15,000.
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