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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that a former insurance company employee
has been indicted on charges that she stole
more than $42,000 from her employer by issuing
fictitious claim checks.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Crystal Shaw, 39, of Plainfield,
a former State Farm Insurance Company employee,
was charged with second-degree insurance
fraud, third-degree theft by deception,
third-degree forgery, and fourth-degree
falsifying or tampering with records. The
indictment was voted on Feb. 27 but handed
up in court today.
The Morris County grand jury indictment
alleges that between May 31, 2005 and March
21, 2006, Shaw, in her capacity as a State
Farm automobile claims representative, falsified
State Farm claims information in order to
issue fraudulent and unauthorized claims
checks to a fictitious person known as Darrin
Shefton. It is alleged that checks were
issued to make it appear as if Darrin Shefton
was entitled to insurance claims payments
from State Farm Insurance Company. As a
result of the fraud, Shaw allegedly stole
$42,395 from State farm.
State
Investigator Carlos Ortiz and Deputy Attorney
General Steven B. Farman were assigned to
the investigation. Farman presented the
case to the Morris County grand jury.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum
sentence of 10 years in state prison and
a fine of $150,000, while third-degree crimes
carry a maximum sentence of five years in
state prison and a fine of $15,000. Fourth-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of 18 months
in state prison and a fine of $10,000. Shaw
may also face civil insurance fraud fines.
This
case was referred to OIFP by the Special
Investigative Unit of State Farm Insurance
Company, which initially uncovered the fraud
and assisted OIFP in the investigation.
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Brown thanked
State Farm for its assistance in this matter.
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