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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that a New York man has pleaded guilty today
to stealing more than $24,000 in health
care claims monies to which he was not entitled.
According
to Greta Gooden Brown, Insurance Fraud Prosecutor,
Morris Stuart Baer, 46, of New York, pleaded
guilty before Superior Court Judge Roger
F. Mahon in Hunterdon County to a criminal
accusation which charged him with third-degree
theft by deception.
In pleading guilty, Baer admitted that he
applied for health benefits through his
employer for himself and his wife when,
in fact, he was not married. Baer admitted
that between December 2002 and April 2004,
he submitted $24,025 in fraudulent claims
to United Health Group and Aetna Insurance
Company on behalf of another person who
he claimed was his wife, but who was not,
as well as fraudulent claims for treatments
for himself.
State
Investigator Janet Amberg, Civil Investigator
Carol Seekamp, and Deputy Attorney General
Cheryl A. Maccaroni were assigned to the
investigation. Maccaroni represented the
Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor at
the guilty plea hearing. Insurance Fraud
Prosecutor Brown thanked United Health Group
and Aetna Insurance Company for their assistance
in this matter.
Baer
is scheduled to appear before Judge Mahon
on Feb. 29, 2008 to be sentenced. Third-degree
crimes carry sentences of up to five years
in state prison, and a criminal fine of
up to $15,000. Baer also faces civil insurance
fraud fines.
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