TRENTON - Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that a Hudson County woman has been indicted for attempting to collect on a fraudulent insurance claim by falsely reporting her car stolen.
According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Flavia Almonte, 27, of Jersey City, was charged with third-degree insurance fraud and third-degree attempted theft by deception, as well as fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records. The Hudson County grand jury indictment was voted on Feb. 19 and handed up yesterday.
The indictment alleges that between April 28 and August 29, 2006, Almonte falsely reported to the Jersey City Police Department that her 2005 Hyundai Elantra had been stolen. According to the indictment, Almonte subsequently submitted a false automobile theft affidavit to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in support of a claim that her car had been stolen.
An investigation determined that the Elantra had not been stolen, but that Almonte had allegedly damaged the car in an accident, parked it a short distance away from her house, and falsely reported it stolen to the insurance company. Liberty Mutual denied the claim and reported the matter to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor for investigation.
State Investigator Toni Petreski, Civil Investigator Charles Canfield and Deputy Attorney General Nicole D. Rizzolo were assigned to the investigation. Rizzolo presented the case to the Hudson County grand jury.
This case was referred to OIFP by the Special Investigative Unit of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, which initially uncovered the fraud and assisted OIFP in the investigation. Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Brown thanked Liberty Mutual for their assistance in this matter.
The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a criminal fine of $15,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison and a criminal fine of $10,000. Almonte also may face civil insurance fraud fines.
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