Arrests for November 2005
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
Hardy Porter, an unemployed Rochester man, pled guilty and was sentenced on 11/9/05 to serve 12 weekends in the Monroe County jail. Porter was arrested on 2/24/05 on a charge of insurance fraud in the 3rd degree. On 3/20/04, he reported that his 1990 Lexus was stolen from his driveway and he filed a claim with Progressive Insurance Company for the loss. An investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the Rochester Police Department, the State Police and Progressive’s SIU revealed that in an effort to collect $8,500 in an insurance settlement, he materially misrepresented the facts surrounding the loss of his car.
- WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD
Arrested on 11/30/05
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree, offering a false instrument for filing and fraudulent practices under the Workers’ Compensation Law
An investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the State Insurance Fund and the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General’s Office resulted in the arrest of a Syracuse woman accused of scamming the workers’ compensation system. The defendant applied for benefits after she sustained an injury to her shoulder on 9/15/01 at a doughnut shop where she worked. On numerous occasions while she was collecting benefits, she reported to the State Fund that she was not working. However, evidence revealed that she had been employed as a babysitter since the fall of 2003 during which time she wrongfully collected more than $12,500 in benefits.
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WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD 2
Arrested on 11/30/05
Charged with insurance fraud, offering a false instrument for filing and fraudulent practices under the Workers’ Compensation Law
After being classified with a Permanent Partial Disability by the Workers’ Compensation Board on 12/3/02, the defendant in this case began collecting workers’ compensation benefits. During the period from May 2003 to June 2004, he reported to the State Insurance Fund that he was not employed. However, an investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the State Fund and the State Police uncovered evidence that he was working as a laborer while collecting more than $11,500 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
- NO-FAULT FRAUD TAKEDOWN
Arrested on 11/28/05
Charged with enterprise corruption, money laundering and insurance fraud
Two doctors, a lawyer and five other defendants were arrested for their participation in a no-fault fraud scheme in Queens. One of the doctors arrested was the "paper owner" of two of the clinics involved in the scam and the second doctor told patients he owned a third clinic. But a husband-and-wife team was actually the secret owners and managers of the clinics, as well as the billing service that filed the phony claims. Among the others arrested were a clinic manager and a runner who helped find accident victims and steer them to the clinics where they underwent months of unnecessary treatment and tests. The lawyer arrested in the case was charged with filing bogus bodily injury claims for the accident victims. The Frauds Bureau and the Attorney General’s Office pooled resources in this two-year investigation.
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WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD 3
Arrested on 11/22/05
Charged with insurance fraud, offering a false instrument for filing and fraudulent practices under the Workers’ Compensation Law
An investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the State Insurance Fund, the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General’s Office and the State Police led to the arrest of a construction laborer for presenting documents to the Fund that falsely stated that he was not working. However, evidence revealed that he was employed at a local construction company and receiving wages at the same time that he was paid $20,850 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
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WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD 4
Arrested on 11/22/05
Charged with grand larceny, offering a false instrument for filing, insurance fraud and violation of the Workers’ Compensation Law
Following a work-related injury on 3/19/03, the suspect in this case filed a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, stating he was unable to work at any type of job. During an investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the State Insurance Fund and the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General’s Office, investigators discovered that from March 2003 to August 2004, he was working at a scrap yard. As a result of his false statements, he received over $14,300 to which he was not entitled.
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WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD 5
Arrested on 11/18/05
Charged with grand larceny in the 3rd degree
The defendant in this case was accused of stealing workers’ compensation benefit checks totaling $5,500 over a period from November 2002 to April 2003. He forged the signature of a deceased beneficiary in order to cash the checks. His arrest was the result of the efforts of the Frauds Bureau and the State Insurance Fund.
- STOLEN PROPERTY
Arrested on 11/17/05
Charged with grand larceny in the 3rd degree and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle
On 6/2/02, a Niagara Falls resident bought a 2000 Ford Focus from the defendant in this case. The buyer noted at the time of the purchase that the car had extensive rear-end damage. On 7/14/05 when the new owner reported to the Niagara Falls Police Department that his car had been stolen from a parking area near his home, he was informed that the same car had been reported stolen by a woman in Buffalo on 6/13/05. Following an investigation and interrogation by the Frauds Bureau and the Niagara Falls Police Department, the woman stated that she did not give the defendant permission to take and sell her car. He was arrested and charged with grand larceny and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
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ALTERED PRESCRIPTION
Arrested on 11/17/05
Charged with forgery in the 2nd degree
A Bay Shore, Long Island, woman was accused of presenting to a pharmacy a prescription that she knew was altered to increase the number of pills from 90 to 200. The investigation that led to her arrest was conducted by the Frauds Bureau.
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FORGED PRESCRIPTIONS
Arrested on 11/17/05
Charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the 2nd degree
On 4/13/04, 7/15/04 and 12/26/04 while employed in a doctor’s office, a licensed practical nurse from Rochester presented prescriptions for controlled substances at a local pharmacy. A joint investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the Town of Greece Police Department revealed that the defendant forged the prescriptions so that it would appear as though her employer had legitimately prescribed the drugs for her.
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WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD 6
Arrested on 11/15/05
Charged with fraudulent practices under the Workers’ Compensation Law
The efforts of the Frauds Bureau in this investigation led to the arrest of a Huntington, Long Island, resident for his part in a worker’s compensation fraud scam. In October 2001, he submitted an application for workers’ compensation and employers liability insurance that he knew contained false information to conceal the fact that he owed the State Insurance Fund $25,200 in past-due premiums.
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WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD 7
Arrested on 11/14/05
Charged with fraudulent practices under the Workers’ Compensation Law
This suspect presented to the State Insurance Fund two Certificates of Liability Insurance that he knew contained false information. His arrest was the result of an investigation by the Frauds Bureau.
- WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD 8
Arrested on 11/14/05
Charged with violation of the Workers’ Compensation Law
An investigation by the Frauds Bureau led to the arrest of a Long Island woman suspected of knowingly presenting to the State Insurance Fund a fraudulent application for workers’ compensation insurance in an effort to avoid paying more than $6,500 in past-due premiums.
- WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD 9
Arrested on 11/14/05
Charged with fraudulent practices under the Workers’ Compensation Law
On three separate occasions, the defendant in this case submitted to the State Insurance Fund statements that she allegedly knew contained false information as to her employment status. The Frauds Bureau’s investigation led to her arrest.
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MASSAGE DOESN’T COUNT
Arrested on 11/14/05
Charged with insurance fraud in the 2nd degree
An investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the Suffolk County DA’s Office resulted in the arrest of a physical therapist from Babylon, NY, who is suspected of billing Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield for physical therapy when he actually performed massage therapy.
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KARAOKE, ANYONE
Arrested on 11/13/05
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree and grand larceny in the 4th degree
The suspect in this case reported to New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company that her Karaoke system valued at $7,000 was destroyed in a fire in her garage. The insurer reimbursed her $2,100 for the loss. However, during an investigation by the Frauds Bureau following a tip from an informant, the Karaoke system was found several miles away in her son’s garage.
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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Indicted on 11/10/05
Charged with mail fraud, conspiracy and conducting financial transactions with the proceeds of fraud
A Colton, NY, contractor was accused of filing a fraudulent claim with Selective Insurance Company of America in February 1999. The defendant indicated in the claim that he had fallen from a ladder while on the job at a collision business in Potsdam. However, an investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that the accident actually happened at another location that was not covered by insurance. The defendant then persuaded an accomplice to corroborate his story. He was subsequently paid $5,000 for medical expenses and an additional $90,000 as a settlement.
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WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD 10
Arrested on 11/9/05
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree
In October 2002 and February 2004, this suspect submitted statements that contained allegedly false information about his employment status and as a result he wrongfully received more than $47,000 in workers’ compensation benefits.
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WORKERS’ COMP FRAUD 11
Arrested on 11/9/05
Charged with grand larceny, insurance fraud, offering a false instrument for filing and fraudulent practices under the Workers’ Compensation Law
During an investigation conducted by the Frauds Bureau, the defendant in this case was caught on videotape surveillance working as a counterman on four occasions from June to October 2005. During that time, he submitted documents stating that he was not employed and as a result collected $3,600 in workers’ compensation benefits to which he was not entitled.
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AN EVEN DOZEN
Arrested on 11/7/05
Charged with offering a false instrument for filing, insurance fraud and fraudulent practices under the Workers’ Compensation Law
Following a work-related injury on 6/15/04, this suspect began collecting workers’ compensation benefits and reported to the State Insurance Fund on numerous occasions that he had not returned to work. However, an investigation by the Frauds Bureau revealed that he was employed as a landscaper and collected $600 in benefits to which he was not entitled.
PRIOR SUPPLEMENTS
OCTOBER 2005
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CAR FIRE
Arrested on 10/19/05
Charged with arson in the 3rd degree, insurance fraud in the 3rd degree, grand larceny in the 4th degree and falsely reporting an incident
A Brooklyn man reported his 1996 customized Voyager stolen and filed a claim with GEICO Insurance Company for the loss. However, the car was discovered destroyed by a fire that New York City Fire Marshals determined was arson. Evidence uncovered during an investigation by the Fire Marshals with the assistance of the Frauds Bureau indicated that the defendant accidentally caused the fire while smoking near a gas can he carried in the car. But because he did not have fire coverage, he reported the car stolen to cover the loss.
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STAGED ACCIDENT
Arrested on 10/7/05
Charged with perjury
An investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the Queens DA’s Office led to the arrest of this defendant who allegedly participated in a staged accident with another person who was previously arrested. The accident caused the death of the person in the other vehicle. The defendant was charged with giving false testimony under oath which impeded the ongoing investigation.
