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For Immediate Release:  
For Further Information:
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August 22, 2006  
Division of Criminal Justice
609-984-1936
Office of The Attorney General
- Zulima V. Farber, Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
- Gregory A. Paw, Director
Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
-
Greta Gooden Brown, Insurance Fraud Prosecutor  
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Hudson County Man Charged
in Auto Accident Injury Scam
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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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