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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that a former New Jersey resident has been
indicted on insurance fraud-related charges,
including identity theft and four counts
of falsifying records.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Jeremy Sager, 54, formerly of Mt.
Laurel and Philadelphia, was charged with
second-degree identity theft, second-degree
attempted theft by deception, third-degree
insurance fraud, and four counts of fourth-degree
falsifying records.
The
Burlington County grand jury indictment
alleges that between April 14, 2003 and
Feb. 23, 2006, Sager, who is currently residing
in Welsh, Louisiana, falsely impersonated
another by fraudulently using the name John
M. Schlauer on official documentation. Sager,
impersonating Schlauer, reported that he
had been involved in an automobile accident
in Philadelphia on April 14, 2003, in which
he struck a pedestrian. In defense of the
suit arising out of the accident, Sager,
impersonating Schlauer, falsified and submitted
documents to New Jersey Cure Insurance Company.
Sager attempted to defraud New Jersey Cure
into paying out approximately $100,000 in
insurance benefits to the plaintiff of the
suit.
Detective
LaMonica Cross, Civil Investigator Joseph
Stavola, Jr., and Deputy Attorney General
Paul D. Santangini were assigned to the
investigation. Santangini presented the
case to the Burlington County grand jury.
“Identity
theft continues to be a significant law
enforcement issue,” said Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor Brown. “Use of fraudulent
identities enables persons to steal both
money and property. We frequently encounter
cases in which insurance is obtained and
claims are submitted utilizing false identities.”
This
case was referred to OIFP by the Special
Investigative Unit of the New Jersey Cure
Insurance Company which initially uncovered
the fraud and assisted OIFP in the investigation.
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Brown thanked
New Jersey Cure for its assistance in this
matter.
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 criminal fine of $150,000, while third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five
years in 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. Sager
also may face civil insurance fraud fines.
Prosecutor
Brown noted that some important cases have
started with anonymous tips. People who
are concerned about insurance cheating and
have information about fraud can report
it anonymously by calling the toll-free
hotline 1-877-55-FRAUD or visiting the Web
site www.njinsurancefraud.org. State regulations
permit an award to be paid to an eligible
person who provides information that leads
to an arrest, prosecution and conviction
for insurance fraud.
The
Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor was
established by the Automobile Insurance
Cost Reduction Act of 1998. The office is
the centralized state agency that investigates
and prosecutes both civil and criminal insurance
fraud, as well as Medicaid fraud.
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