| TRENTON – Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) announced today that a Mercer County insurance agent has been charged with submitting fraudulent life insurance applications and death benefit claims for applicants he knew did not meet U.S. residency requirements and other policy conditions.
Dekpah J. Gueh, 68, of Trenton, was indicted today on second-degree insurance fraud and third-degree theft by deception in connection with three policies issued by Washington National Insurance Company (“Washington National”) in the name of three unqualified applicants who did not reside in the United States for at least twelve months prior to the dates of the applications, lacked valid social security numbers, and did not sign the applications in the presence of the agent.
Gueh, who has ties to the African immigrant community, received a total of about $2,157 in commission for the three policies, which were purchased by members of the immigrant community in the names of alleged relatives living in Liberia.
“We allege that Dekpah Gueh convinced newcomers to this country that the way to provide for their families back home was to join him in defrauding an insurance company,” Attorney General Porrino said. “He allegedly sold them policies he knew were fraudulent and pocketed the sales commission from his employer.”
“It is particularly troubling when licensed insurance agents engage in fraud,” said Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Christopher Iu. “The public places a great deal of trust in licensed insurance agents and expects them to adhere to high ethical standards and to obey the law. Agents who place greed before the law will be held accountable for their actions.”
Prosecutors allege that sometime prior to August 23, 2011, Gueh, approached acquaintances about applying for life insurance for a relative in Africa. Gueh was thereafter provided with basic identifying information for three alleged family members living in Liberia as proposed applicants for life insurance.
Between February and September 2014, the relatives allegedly passed away in Liberia and Gueh completed claims for payouts on behalf of the beneficiaries. Two of the policies provided for $30,000 in benefits, the third provided for $25,000. Unable to confirm the deaths of the insured individuals, Washington National withheld the payments and referred the matter to OIFP.
The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $150,000; third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $15,000.
Deputy Attorney General Kelly Levy presented the case to the grand jury. Detectives Natalie L. Brotherston, Matthew Armstrong, and Taryn Seidner coordinated the investigation.
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.#### |
