TRENTON
- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal
Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced
that a Newark man has been indicted for
allegedly selling a phony motor vehicle
insurance identification card and motor
vehicle inspection stickers to an undercover
law enforcement officer.
According
to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Riza
Dagli, George Hawkins, 45, of Newark, was
charged with third-degree simulating a motor
vehicle insurance identification card and
third-degree tampering with public records
or information.
The Essex County grand jury indictment alleges
that on April 27, 2007, Hawkins produced
and offered to sell a fake motor vehicle
insurance identification card to an undercover
law enforcement officer. It is also alleged
that on May 24, 2007, Hawkins sold two fake
motor vehicle inspection stickers to undercover
law enforcement officers and placed one
on the windshield of a vehicle to make it
appear to law enforcement authorities that
the vehicle had passed a state motor vehicle
inspection.
Detectives
Darryl Washington and Kelly Howard, and
Deputy Attorneys General John J. Higgins
and Cheryl A. Maccaroni were assigned to
the investigation. Deputy Attorney General
Maccaroni presented the case to the Essex
County grand jury.
This case was referred to the Office of
the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor by the Special
Investigative Unit of the State Farm Insurance
Company, which initially uncovered the fraud
and assisted OIFP in the investigation.
Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Dagli
thanked State Farm for its assistance in
this matter.
The
indictment, which was voted on April 13
but handed up today, is merely an accusation.
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.
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