TRENTON
- Attorney General Zulima V. Farber and
Division of Criminal Justice Director Gregory
A. Paw announced that a Hudson County man
has been charged with attempted theft by
deception for his role in an automobile
accident injury scam.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Alexis Figueroa, 33, of Secaucus,
was charged with third-degree attempted
theft by deception in an indictment returned
today (Aug. 22) by a Hudson County grand
jury.
The
indictment obtained by the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
alleges that on or about Sept. 1, 2001,
Figueroa fraudulently received more than
$500 worth of medical services from the
Jersey City Medical Center after he falsely
claimed to be injured in a taxicab that
was struck by another vehicle. An investigation
by the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
determined that, in fact, Figueroa was outside
of the taxicab when it was struck and did
not suffer injuries.
The
investigation further revealed that Figueroa
sought the treatment from the Jersey City
Medical Center in order to submit a false
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claim to
the Amica Mutual Insurance Company. Amica
Mutual denied Figueroa’s claim and
referred the matter to the Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor.
State
Investigator Matthew Michalik, Civil Investigator
Bud Fifield, and Deputy Attorney General
Robert J. Brass were assigned to the investigation.
DAG Brass presented the case to the Hudson
County grand jury.
Third-degree
crimes carry a sentence of up to five years
in state prison and a criminal fine of up
to $15,000. In addition, Figueroa may face
civil insurance fines if convicted. An indictment
is merely an accusation and the defendant
is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Prosecutor
Brown noted that some important cases have
begun with anonymous tips from the public.
People who are concerned about insurance
cheating and have any information about
a fraud can report it anonymously by calling
our toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD,
or visit our Web site at www.NJInsuranceFraud.org.
State regulations permit an award to be
paid to an eligible person who provides
information that leads to an arrest, prosecution
and conviction for insurance fraud.
The
Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
was established by the Automobile Insurance
Cost Reduction Act of 1998 (AICRA). The
Office is the centralized state agency that
investigates and prosecutes both civil and
criminal insurance fraud, as well as Medicaid
fraud. Criminal convictions for insurance
fraud can result in fines and imprisonment,
while civil penalties can include substantial
fines and referral for revocation or suspension
of professional licenses.
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