Arrests for May 2007
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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- NO COLLISION COVERAGE
Arrested on 5/30/07
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree and falsifying business records in the 1st degree
An investigation by the Frauds Bureau resulted in the arrest of an upstate laborer accused of filing a fraudulent auto insurance claim. The suspect was involved in an auto accident on 11/12/06. However, on that date the suspect had no collision coverage for his car. The investigation revealed that he subsequently purchased the needed coverage and filed a claim stating that the accident had occurred on 11/13/06 when coverage was in place.
- A LONG WAY TO JACKSONVILLE
Arrested on 5/30/07
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree and attempted grand larceny in the 3rd degree
On 11/18/06, a Rochester resident reported that his 2002 Mercury Mountaineer was stolen from a local street. He filed a claim with GEICO Insurance Company for the loss, including supporting documents. However, on 1/27/07, the car was recovered in a parking lot in Jacksonville, FL. An examination of the car conducted during an investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the Rochester Police Department’s Auto Theft Unit and GEICO’s SIU turned up MAPQUEST directions from the suspect’s home to the Jacksonville parking lot, as well as documents indicating air transportation for one passenger from Jacksonville to Rochester. When confronted with the evidence, the suspect confessed to the attempted fraud.
- STOLEN IDENTITY
Arrested on 5/30/07
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree, identity theft in the 1st degree, forgery in the 2nd degree and attempted grand larceny in the 3rd degree
The defendant in this case represented himself to Allstate Insurance Company as a policyholder of that insurer who had had his 2003 Ford pickup truck stolen on 6/30/06. He also intercepted mail intended for the Allstate policyholder and submitted written statements to the insurer purporting to be the insured. He allegedly intended to also intercept a $30,000 check issued by Allstate to the actual insured for the theft of his car. An investigation by the Frauds Bureau, the Rochester Police Department’s Field Investigative Services and Allstate’s SIU led to the arrest.
- A KEY’S THE KEY
Arrested on 5/25/07
Charged with insurance fraud in the 5th degree, petit larceny in 3rd degree and falsifying business records in the 2nd degree
The defendant in this case reported her car stolen at 10:20 p.m. on 3/21/07, stating that she had last seen it at 9:00 p.m. the night before parked near her home on Staten Island. She further stated that she was in possession of all keys to the vehicle. However, the car was recovered by the FDNY on fire in Brooklyn at 12:38 a.m. on 3/21/07, hours before she claimed to have last seen it parked. An investigation by the Frauds Bureau and the FDNY’s Fire Marshals revealed that the car’s column and the ignition were not compromised and the transmission was undefeated, leading to the conclusion that the car could not have been driven without a key. The suspect was subsequently arrested and charged with insurance fraud, petit larceny and falsifying business records.
- DOCTOR FRAUD
Arrested on 5/24/07
Charged with insurance fraud and grand larceny
A doctor employed at a Queens medical clinic was accused of fraudulently billing a number of insurers under New York’s no-fault law for expensive medical tests for auto accident victims. According to the charges, between May 2004 and September 2005, the suspect submitted more than $10,000 in claims for services that were either unnecessary or not provided. The combined efforts of the Frauds Bureau and the NYPD’s Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad led to his arrest.
- STAGED ACCIDENT
Arrested on 5/10/07
Charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy
An ongoing investigation being conducted jointly by the Frauds Bureau and the NYPD’s Fraudulent Accident Investigation Squad led to the arrest of a Queens man for his part in a staged accident scheme. He allegedly deliberately drove his car into another car in an effort to gain medical benefits under the no-fault portion of his auto insurance coverage.
- ONLINE FAKER
Arrested on 5/9/07
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd, 4th and 5th degrees, grand larceny in the 3rd degree and scheme to defraud in the 1st degree
This suspect, while acting in concert with two other suspects previously arrested, allegedly acted as an online insurance broker without a license. He was charged with collecting premiums but failing to forward them to any insurer. In addition, he charged a service fee of several hundred dollars for the online transactions. More than 20 victims lost their insurance coverage as a result of this fraud.
- FRAUD FOR INSURANCE MONEY
Arrested on 5/3/07
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree, grand larceny in the 3rd degree and falsifying business records in the 1st degree
On 2/12/07, a U.S. Postal worker reported that his car had been stolen in Ocoee, FL. However, the car had been recovered destroyed by fire in the Bronx on 2/11/07. An investigation conducted by the Frauds Bureau and the NYPD’s Auto Crime Unit showed inconsistencies between the defendant’s written report and his oral statements and he subsequently confessed to committing the fraud for the insurance payout.
PRIOR SUPPLEMENTS
MARCH 2007
- NO-FAULT SCAM
Arrested on 3/19/07
Chargedwith insurance fraud and falsifying business records
Two defendants, while acting in concert with two others also arrested, allegedly conspired to stage an accident by purposefully driving their car into another vehicle. They each then sought and received more than $5,000 in medical treatment for nonexistent injuries under their no-fault insurance coverage.
FEBRUARY 2007
- ARSON FOR TWO
Arrested on 2/19/07
Chargedwith arson in the 3rd degree, insurance fraud in the 3rd degree and grand larceny in the 3rd degree
On 11/12/06, a Long Island woman reported to the Nassau County Police Department that her car had been stolen. However, the car was recovered on the same day in New York City destroyed by fire. An investigation was initiated by the Frauds Bureau and the FDNY’s Fire Marshals and when interviewed the suspect admitted that she had arranged with someone to have the car burned. She was arrested on 2/19 and the suspect who allegedly burned the car was arrested on 3/5/07. Both were charged with arson, insurance fraud and grand larceny.
