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For Immediate Release:  
For Further Information:
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October 25, 2006  
Division of Criminal Justice
609-292-4791

Office of The Attorney General
- Stuart Rabner, 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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Newark Man and Paterson Woman Charged in Identity Theft Case
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TRENTON - Attorney General Stuart Rabner and Division of Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that a Newark man and a Paterson woman have been indicted for allegedly using a stolen identity to buy a car on credit.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Alif James, 31, of Newark, and Michelle Chappell, 30, of Paterson, were charged with conspiracy and theft by deception, both in the third degree. In addition, James was charged with third-degree theft of identity.

The indictment, returned by a Hudson County grand jury on Oct. 17 and handed up late yesterday, alleges that James and Chappell conspired to commit identity theft and theft of a car by deception. Specifically, it is alleged that James bought a 1998 Honda Accord from the Bob Ciasulli Auto Group on credit on June 25, 2001 using the identity of an Elizabeth man which he had stolen. It is alleged that Chappell co-signed certain records for the Honda purchase knowing James was using someone else’s identity.

The indictment, which was handed up to Superior Court Judge Peter J. Vazquez in Hudson County, is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is being handled by State Investigator Vincent Gaeta and Deputy Attorney General Philip J. Mogavero. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum punishment of five years in state prison and a criminal fine of $15,000.

Prosecutor Brown 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 1-877-55-FRAUD or visiting the Web 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 Insurance Fraud Prosecutor was established by the Automobile Insurance Cost Reduction Act of 1998. The office is the centralized state agency that investigates and prosecutes both civil and criminal insurance fraud, as well as Medicaid fraud.

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