Arrests for February 2004
These arrests were made possible through the cooperation of the Frauds Bureau, law enforcement, the insurance industry and the public.
To report suspected incidents of insurance fraud, call 1-888-FRAUDNY
CAUGHT!
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SENTENCED
Francis Rikhoff, an Auburn businessman, pled guilty to a charge of attempted arson and was sentenced to one-to-three years in State prison. Rikhoff was arrested on 2/13/04 after TNY Car Toyz, a store he managed, and its contents were destroyed during a suspicious fire that occurred on 2/9/04. An investigation uncovered evidence that Rikhoff hired a store employee to set the fire. The employee was also charged with arson and agreed to cooperate with the investigation. The Frauds Bureau worked with the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office and the Syracuse Police Department throughout this investigation.
- HOME FIRES
Arrested on 2/27/04
Charged with arson in the 2nd degree
The defendant in this case reported that a fire took place at his apartment on 6/20/03. An investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the Town of Clay Police Department uncovered evidence that the fire was deliberately set. No insurance fraud charges were lodged against this suspect because the insurance claim was submitted in the name of a second party and it is unknown at this time if the second party had any knowledge of the arson.
- MR. AND MRS. FRAUDSTER
Arrested on 2/26/04
Charged with insurance fraud in the 4th degree, falsifying business records in the 1st degree, making a punishable false written statement and offering a false instrument for filing in the 2nd degree
An upstate husband and wife teamed up to submit a stolen property claim to State Farm Insurance Company in December 2003, stating that while unoccupied, their home was broken into and personal items were stolen. In addition, the wife submitted written documents in support of the claim which was found to be fraudulent following an investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the State Police and State Farm's Special Investigations Unit.
- WORKERS' COMP SWEEP
Arrested on 2/25-26/04
Charged with grand larceny, insurance fraud, criminal possession of a forged instrument, forgery, falsifying business records, offering a false instrument for filing, attempted grand larceny and violations of the Worker's Compensation Law
An investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the Queens District Attorney's Office, the State Insurance Fund and the Workers' Compensation Fraud Inspector General's Office resulted in the arrest of 12 Queens residents in an arrest sweep that took place over a two-day period. The residents are charged with defrauding the workers' compensation system of more that $172,000 during a four-year period from 1999 to 2003 by either submitting false applications for insurance coverage or claiming they had been injured and unable to work when actually they were gainfully employed. Among those arrested were a public school custodian, a livery cab driver, the president of an apparel company and a medical office assistant.
- NO TREATMENT
Arrested on 2/25/04
Charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, forgery in the 2nd degree, grand larceny in the 3rd degree, insurance fraud in the 3rd degree and falsifying business records in the 1st degree
A physician's office manager was accused of submitting numerous fraudulent claims for various medical treatments purportedly provided by her employer. However, during an investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the Queens District Attorney's Office, the physician informed the investigators that he had never provided medical services to his employee.
- CROSSING THE GW BRIDGE
Arrested on 2/18/04
Charged with arson in the 3rd degree, attempted grand larceny in the 3rd degree and insurance fraud in the 3rd degree
The Frauds Bureau and the FDNY's Bureau of Fire Investigation Auto Fraud Unit conducted an investigation that led to the arrest of a New Jersey man who reported that at about 5:30 on the evening of January 14, he parked his 2000 Pontiac Grand Am in front of his house. He further claimed that he left home and when he returned at 9:30 that evening, his car was gone. He reported it stolen to the police. However, the investigation revealed that his car had been found burning at about 2:30 that afternoon on the Henry Hudson Parkway in New York City and the fire was determined to be incendiary. The case is being prosecuted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
- IDENTICAL CLAIMS
Arrested on 2/10/04
Charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the 3rd degree, forgery in the 1st degree, grand larceny in the 3rd degree and insurance fraud in the 3rd degree
This suspect filed a property damage claim with Otsego Patrons Cooperative in 2001 in the amount of $4,640. However, it was discovered that he had filed an identical claim in 1997 for which he was reimbursed $1,656. His arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by the Frauds Bureau.
- WHO'S DISABLED?
Arrested on 2/9/04
Charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the 3rd degree, forgery in the 1st degree, grand larceny in the 3rd degree and insurance fraud in the 3rd degree
An unemployed woman was charged with filing fraudulent insurance claims with Combined Life Insurance Company of New York under two separate disability polices. In the first instance, she allegedly filed seven claims under her own policy in which she forged the name of her doctor. She subsequently filed two additional claims under her daughter's policy in which she forged her daughter's name. In all, Combined Life paid out more than $3,600 on the bogus claims. An investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department and Combined Life Insurance Company of New York led to her arrest.
- HE'S ON THE JOB
Arrested on 2/9/04
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree, grand larceny in the 3rd degree and violation of the Workers' Compensation Law
The defendant in this case, an upstate roofer, was injured on the job in November 2002 and began collecting workers' compensation benefits. During an investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the Workers' Compensation Board Inspector General's Office, evidence was uncovered that the suspect was gainfully employed while collecting benefits to which he was not entitled.
PRIOR SUPPLEMENTS
JANUARY 2004
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FLOUTING THE LAW
Arrested on 1/23/04
Charged with insurance fraud in the 5th degree
After a two-year investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the Workers' Compensation Board Inspector General's Office and the State Insurance Fund, the owner of a contracting business was arrested and charged with operating his business without the workers' compensation coverage required by New York State Law to protect workers injured on the job. This information came to light following the death of one of his workers in a job-related accident and an investigation into the fatality.
DECEMBER 2003
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BOGUS MEDICAL TREATMENT
Arrested on 12/18/03
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree
The two defendants in this case each applied for and received $3,000 in medical treatment under the no-fault portion of their auto insurance based on an accident that never occurred. The Frauds Bureau and the NYPD's Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad pooled resources in the investigation that led to their arrests.
NOVEMBER 2003
- FRAUDULENT NO-FAULT CLAIMS
Arrested on 11/17-18/03
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree
Two suspects were accused of applying for and receiving medical treatment totaling $3,000 under their no-fault insurance based on accidents that did not occur. Their insurance company was billed for $3,000 in each case. Their arrests were the result of an investigation conducted jointly by the Frauds Bureau and the NYPD's Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad.
- NO ACCIDENT
Arrested on 11/6/03
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd and 4th degrees
An investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the NYPD's Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad led to the arrest of three Brooklyn men charged with receiving unnecessary medical treatment under their no-fault insurance based on an accident that never occurred. Their insurance companies were billed a total of $7,000 for the bogus treatment.
- FRAUDULENT BILLING
Arrested on 11/6/03
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree
A Bronx man was accused of filing fraudulent no-fault claims with Clarendon and Allstate Insurance Companies totaling more than $3,000. The Frauds Bureau and the NYPD's Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad joined forces in the investigation that led to his arrest.
OCTOBER 2003
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NO-FAULT FRAUD
Arrested on 10/28/03
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree
The defendant in this case was accused of receiving medical treatment under her no-fault insurance following a nonexistent accident. Her insurer was billed $3,000 for the "treatment." Her arrest occurred as a result of an investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the NYPD's Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad.
- MORE NO-FAULT FRAUD
Arrested on 10/16/03
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree
Following an investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the NYPD's Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad, a Brooklyn resident was charged with receiving medical treatment in excess of $3,000 based on an accident that never occurred.
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AND MORE
Arrested on 10/16/03
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree
The defendant in this case was charged with filing fraudulent no-fault insurance claims of more than $3,000 for "injuries" sustained in an accident that did not occur. The investigation was conducted by the Frauds Bureau and the NYPD's Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad.
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OPERATION WHIPLASH (cont'd.)
Arrested on 10/7/03
Charged with grand larceny, insurance fraud and conspiracy
In a continuing investigation initiated in 1999 dubbed "Operation Whiplash," 19 people were arrested for their participation in a series of staged accidents. This brings to 133 the number of suspects arrested thus far in this case. These latest arrests were the result of an investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the NYPD's Auto Crime Unit.
