TRENTON
– Attorney General Anne Milgram and
Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni
announced that a New York man has been indicted
on charges that he fraudulently reported his
car stolen.
According
to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Riza
Dagli, Daniel J. Roach, 53, of Staten Island,
N.Y., was charged with second-degree insurance
fraud, third-degree theft by deception, and
fourth-degree falsifying records.
The
indictment, which was returned yesterday by
an Ocean County grand jury, alleges that on
Oct. 30, 2005, Roach falsely reported to the
New York City Police Department that his 1994
Mercedes Benz had been stolen. Roach reported
the car as stolen to a claims representative
for New Jersey Skylands Insurance Company
and executed an affidavit stating that he
last observed the vehicle on Oct. 28, 2005
in Staten Island, knowing that the information
was false. Roach obtained $14,100 in claims
money from New Jersey Skylands.
The
investigation was conducted by the Division
of Criminal Justice’s Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor. The case was referred to
OIFP by the Special Investigative Unit of
New Jersey Skylands Insurance Company, which
initially uncovered the fraud and assisted
OIFP.
“Phony automobile theft claims resulting
from ‘give up’ schemes remain
a priority for the Office of Insurance Fraud
Prosecutor,” said Acting Insurance Fraud
Prosecutor Dagli “Too many people are
willing to lie to an insurance company and
claim their car was stolen in order to avoid
car payments, repair bills, or expensive end-of-lease
payments.”
Second-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years
in state prison and a $150,000 fine, while
third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence
of five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence
of 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Roach may also face civil insurance fraud
fines.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Roach will be ordered to appear in
Superior Court in Ocean County at a later
date to answer the charges.
Detective
Amy Carson, Civil Investigator William Sowney
and Deputy Attorney General Scott R. Patterson
were assigned to the investigation into this
case. Deputy Attorney General Patterson presented
the case to the Ocean County grand jury.
Acting
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Dagli thanked Detective
Louis Zara of the New York Police Department
Auto Crime Division for his assistance in
this investigation. He also thanked New Jersey
Skylands for its assistance in this matter.
Acting
Prosecutor Dagli 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.
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