| TRENTON – Acting Attorney General Robert Lougy and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor announced today that a Woodbridge man has pleaded guilty to insurance fraud for reporting that his motorcycle had been stripped of its parts by thieves on two occasions, when in actuality he directed a repair shop to remove the parts so that he could make claims with his insurers.
Lew Alicock, 32, of Woodbridge, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree insurance fraud in a hearing before Superior Court Judge Michael Toto in Middlesex County.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Alicock will pay $5,512.98 in restitution to Pacific Specialty Insurance Company. Additionally, the State will recommend a three-year prison term when Alicock is sentenced. His sentence is scheduled for August 22, 2016.
“This defendant thought he could score some easy cash by filing false insurance claims, but the only thing he earned was jail time,” said Acting Attorney General Lougy. “Criminals who seek to enrich themselves by cheating the insurance system will face the consequences.”
In pleading guilty, Alicock stated that in May 2013 he filed a fraudulent claim with Pacific Specialty Insurance Company stating that parts of his Yamaha motorcycle had been stolen while parked outside his mother’s house in Irvington. In reality, Alicock had paid a repair shop mechanic to remove the parts, including fairings and the slip over the exhaust. Alicock took the parts with him. Four days after filing his claim he returned to the shop and had the mechanic put the parts back on the motorcycle, Alicock admitted.
Pacific issued Alicock a $5,512.96 check for the claim, which he cashed.
Alicock also admitted he tried the scam again in November 2013, this time attempting to defraud Rider Insurance company. Alicock said he filed a claim that his motorcycle had been stripped of several parts totaling more than $1,000 while being housed in Newark. In reality, Alicock had paid to have the parts removed from his motorcycle, he admitted. Rider Insurance did not approve that claim.
“Today’s guilty plea shows that the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor continues to make the investigation and prosecution of false claims a top priority,” said Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Christopher Iu. “This kind of fraud not only victimizes insurance companies, it also drives up costs for honest policy holders.”
Deputy Attorney General Colin Keiffer represented the state at the guilty plea hearing. Detectives Kristi Procaccino and Megan Flanagan coordinated the investigation with assistance from Detective Sargent Jarek Pyrzanowski, Detective Kahlil McGrady, Detective Ron Allen and Analysts Chris Runkle and Terry Worthington. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Iu thanked Woodbridge Police Department for assisting with the arrest.
Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Iu noted that some important cases have started with anonymous tips. People who are concerned about insurance cheating and have information about a fraud can report it anonymously by calling the toll‑free hotline at 1‑877‑55‑FRAUD, or visiting the Web site at www.NJInsurancefraud.org. State regulations permit a reward to be paid to an eligible person who provides information that leads to an arrest, prosecution and conviction for insurance fraud.
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