TRENTON
- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Acting
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi
announced that a Monmouth County man has been
indicted for allegedly submitting a forged
receipt in support of an insurance claim in
an attempt to collect more than $24,000 to
which he was not entitled. According
to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Chillemi,
Dennis Abato, 59, of Howell, was charged
with third-degree insurance fraud, third-degree
attempted theft by deception and fourth-degree
falsifying records.
The
Monmouth County grand jury indictment alleges
that between Dec. 30, 2008 and March 18,
2009, Abato submitted a fraudulent bill
to New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company
(NJM) for reimbursement of $24,138 in connection
with an insurance claim for property damage
repairs to a 2004 Ford L9000 roll back truck.
The indictment alleges that in support of
the fraudulent claim, Abato submitted a
false John’s Heavy Duty Truck &
Repair bill to NJM, knowing that the bill
was false and that he was not entitled to
the $24,138 reimbursement.
Detectives
Wendy Berg and Terrence Buie and Deputy
Attorney General Joan M. Burke were assigned
to the investigation. Burke presented the
case to the Monmouth County grand jury.
Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Chillemi
thanked the New Jersey Manufacturer’s
Insurance Company for referring the matter
to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
and for its assistance in the investigation.
The
indictment, which was voted on Sept. 26
and handed up yesterday, is merely an accusation
and 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, while
fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence
of 18 months in State prison and a criminal
fine of $10,000.
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