TRENTON
- Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced
that a Cranford man has been charged in a
state grand jury indictment for allegedly
collecting more than $22,000 in temporary
disability insurance benefits to which he
was not entitled.
Louis
L. Dubrel, 43, of Cranford, was charged
yesterday (Jan. 30) with insurance fraud,
theft by deception and perjury, all in the
third degree.
The state grand jury indictment alleges
that between Jan. 12 and Sept. 7, 2007,
Dubrel, who sustained a work-related injury
while employed as an auto mechanic for Maple
Crest Auto Group in Union, NJ, omitted and
failed to provide significant information
to New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company
in order to obtain $22,569 in temporary
disability insurance benefits to which he
was not entitled. The indictment also alleges
that Dubrel obtained the $22,569 from New
Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company by
creating the false impression that he was
unable to complete common household chores
and daily physical activities, when, in
fact, he participated as driver in several
harness horse racing qualifying starts and
as a horse trainer during the period that
he received temporary disability benefits.
Finally, the indictment alleges that while
appearing at an official proceeding, namely
in the matter of Louis Dubrel v. Maple
Crest Auto Group, and while under oath,
Dubrel made the false statement that, “I
can’t ride [horses],”a statement
that he knew was not true.
Deputy
Attorney General Carlos A. Lopez and Detective
Scott Stevens were assigned to the investigation
into this case. Lopez presented the case
to the state grand jury. Acting Prosecutor
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi
thanked Mary McInerney, Staff Attorney at
New Jersey Manufacturers for her assistance
in the investigation.
The
indictment 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.
### |