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TRENTON - Attorney General
Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director
Stephen J. Taylor announced that a Burlington
County man was indicted today on charges
that he collected insurance monies to which
he was not entitled.
According to Acting Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor Riza Dagli, Ronald N. Nickens,
34, of Wrightstown, was charged with two
counts of third-degree theft by deception
and one count each of third-degree insurance
fraud, third-degree attempted theft by deception,
and fourth-degree falsifying or tampering
with records.
The Burlington County grand
jury indictment alleges that, following
an automobile accident in which he was involved
and for which he subsequently filed a property
damage claim with Personal Service Insurance
Company (PSI), Nickens cashed a claim check
from PSI in the amount of $1,197.76, but
claimed that he did not receive the check.
The indictment also alleges that after Nickens
received and cashed a second check in the
amount of $1,197.76, he again claimed he
did not receive the check and attempted
to obtain a third check. PSI uncovered the
alleged fraud and referred the matter to
the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
for further investigation.
It is further alleged that
Nickens falsified and submitted a fraudulent
Alamo Rent-A-Car bill to PSI for reimbursement
of $810 and received $810 from PSI in connection
with the claim for property damage, even
though he did not rent a car from Alamo
and was not entitled to receive reimbursement
for the car rental.
Detective Sherri Stevens,
Civil Investigator Theodore Howarth and
Deputy Attorney General Joan M. Burke were
assigned to the investigation. Burke presented
the case to the Burlington County grand
jury. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Dagli thanked the Personal Service Insurance
Company for their assistance in the investigation.
The indictment is merely
an accusation. The defendant is presumed
to be innocent until proven guilty. Third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five
years in state prison and a criminal fine
of $15,000, while crimes of the fourth degree
carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in
state prison and a criminal fine of $10,000.
Nickens may also face civil insurance fraud
fines.
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