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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw, announced
that a carpenter who was formerly employed
by the Scotch Plains Board of Education
pleaded guilty today to stealing more than
$4,500 from the state’s workers’
compensation insurance fund.
According
to Greta Gooden Brown, Insurance Fraud Prosecutor,
Michael Belshaw, 41, of Farmingdale, pleaded
guilty before Superior Court Judge Francis
P. DeStefano in Monmouth County to an accusation
which charged him with third-degree insurance
fraud.
At
the guilty plea hearing, Belshaw admitted
that between Jan. 13 and March 9, 2006,
he submitted a false statement to Bergen
Risk Managers, Inc., a company which assists
in the administration of workers’
compensation for the Scotch Plains Board
of Education. Belshaw falsely indicated
that due to a back injury, he was unable
to perform the duties of his employment
as a carpenter for the Scotch Plains Board
of Education. Belshaw also admitted that
during the same period of time, he was employed
performing carpentry work for a private
home which was undergoing renovations. As
a result of the false statement, Belshaw
wrongfully collected $4,579 in workers’
compensation insurance benefits.
State Investigator Eric Barnes and Deputy
Attorney General Susan Kase were assigned
to the investigation. Kase represented the
Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor at
the guilty plea hearing.
This case was referred to OIFP by the Special
Investigative Unit of Bergen Risk Managers,
Inc. which initially uncovered the fraud
and assisted OIFP in the investigation.
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Brown thanked
Bergen Risk Managers for its assistance
in this matter.
Belshaw
is scheduled to appear before Judge DeStefano
on May 23 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.
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