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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that a former Monmouth County man has been
charged with stealing $99,000 through a
disability insurance fraud.
According
to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden
Brown, Michael Mason, 51, formerly of Freehold
and now residing in Winchester, California,
was indicted on charges of second-degree
theft by deception, third-degree insurance
fraud and fourth-degree falsifying records.
The county grand jury indictment was handed
up today in Superior Court in Monmouth County.
The
Monmouth County grand jury indictment alleges
that between July 10, 2003 and October 31,
2005, Mason received disability benefits
to which he was not entitled. It is alleged
that Mason applied for disability benefits
to Unum Provident Insurance Company, falsely
claiming that he was not receiving Social
Security disability benefits. The indictment
further alleges that Mason altered and submitted
a Social Security Notice of Disapproved
Claim to Unum Provident to collect increased
disability benefits.
An
investigation determined that Mason was
collecting Social Security disability benefits
at the time and, therefore, should have
received reduced disability benefits from
Unum Provident. It is charged that, as a
result of the alleged fraud, Mason stole
$99,222 from Unum Provident.
State
Investigator Andrea Hayes, Civil Investigator
Robert Rosiello and Deputy Attorney General
Susan Kase were assigned to the investigation.
Kase presented the matter to the Monmouth
County grand jury.
This
case was referred to OIFP by the Special
Investigative Unit of Unum Provident Insurance
Company which initially uncovered the fraud
and assisted OIFP in the investigation.
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Brown thanks
Unum Provident for their assistance in this
matter.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendant is presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence
of up to 10 years in prison and a $150,000
fine, while third-degree crimes carry a
sentence of up to 5 years in prison and
a $15,000 fine. Fourth-degree crimes carry
a sentence of up to 18 months in prison
and a $10,000 fine. Mason also may face
civil insurance fraud fines.
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