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TRENTON
- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal
Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced
that an Essex County man has been indicted
for allegedly falsely reporting his car
stolen and subsequently collecting more
than $18,700 to which he was not entitled.
According
to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Riza
Dagli, Valiesse Thelusma, 29, of Irvington,
was charged with second-degree insurance
fraud, third-degree theft by deception,
third-degree tampering with public records
or information, fourth-degree false swearing
and two counts of fourth-degree falsifying
records.
The
Essex County grand jury indictment alleges
that between Dec. 5, 2006 and Nov. 6, 2007,
Thelusma reported to GEICO Indemnity Company
and the Irvington Police Department that
his 2002 BMW 325 automobile had been stolen,
knowing that it had not been stolen. It
is alleged that, by creating the false impression
that the vehicle had been stolen, Thelusma
obtained $18,723.75 from GEICO Indemnity
Company to which he was not entitled. It
is further alleged that Thelusma caused
the Irvington Police Department to create
a false vehicle theft report and then submitted
that report to GEICO Indemnity Company knowing
that the report contained his false statements.
Thelusma allegedly completed and signed
a notarized Vehicle Theft Questionnaire
knowing that it contained false information
for the purpose of deceiving GEICO Indemnity
Company. Finally, the indictment alleges
that Thelusma knowingly made a false statement
under oath that his BMW had been stolen.
Detective
Wendy M. Berg, Civil Investigator David
Whitaker and Deputy Attorney General Geraldine
D. Zidow were assigned to the investigation.
DAG Zidow presented the case to the Essex
County grand jury. Acting Insurance Fraud
Prosecutor Dagli thanked GEICO Indemnity
Company and the Irvington Police Department
for their assistance in the investigation.
The investigation began when the matter
was referred to the Office of the Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor by GEICO Indemnity Company.
The
indictment, which was handed up yesterday,
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 up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes
carry a maximum sentence of five years in
state prison and a criminal fine of up to
$15,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry
a maximum sentence of 18 months in state
prison and a criminal fine of up to $10,000.
Thelusma may also face civil insurance fraud
fines.
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