Arrests for January 2012
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 1-888-372-8369
CAUGHT!
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- AUTO GIVE-UP
Arrested on 1/25/12
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree, grand larceny in the 4th degree and offering a false instrument for filing in the 2nd degree
A Queens man reported to the NYPD that his 2010 Honda Accord had been stolen and filed a $23,843 claim with GEICO Insurance Company for the loss. However, an investigation by the Insurance Frauds Bureau revealed that the car reported stolen had been recovered by the NYPD in an undercover operation. When interviewed, the suspect admitted that he had paid a person, not apprehended, to get rid of the car.
- TWOFER
Arrested on 1/24/12
Charged with falsifying business records
Two suspects were arrested in separate cases stemming from an auto accident in which both men were involved. Defendant #1 filed a claim with Progressive Insurance Company stating that his 2002 Nissan Sentra had to be towed from the accident scene. In support of the claim, he included a receipt for $154.48 from a local towing company. Progressive paid out $131.73 on the claim. However, the owner of the towing company was subsequently interviewed and reported that his company had towed a 2006 Acura, the car owned by the other driver involved in the accident, not the defendant’s Nissan Sentra. Defendant #1 was arrested on 1/24/12 and charged with falsifying business records. Further investigation by the Insurance Frauds Bureau and the NYPD’s Auto Crime Division revealed that defendant #2 in this case filed a claim with Progressive for the damage his 2006 Acura sustained in the same accident. In support of his claim, he submitted a letter from American Honda Financial Corporation stating that a previous loan on the car had been satisfied. Progressive issued a check for $14,617 and defendant #2 signed and cashed the check. He was arrested on 12/8/11 and charged with insurance fraud when investigators learned that the loan was still outstanding.
- ARRANGED CAR FIRE
Arrested on 1/23/12
Charged with insurance fraud in the 3rd degree and attempted grand larceny in the 4th degree
An investigation by the Insurance Frauds Bureau and the North Tonawanda Police Department resulted in the arrest of two upstate defendants. They allegedly knowingly arranged for their vehicle to be taken from their residence in North Tonawanda and burned in Buffalo. Subsequently, defendant #1 falsely reported to the Police that the car had been stolen and defendant #2 submitted a $3,057 claim to GEICO Insurance Company for the loss.
- THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
Arrested on 1/20/12
Charged with insurance fraud, larceny and forgery
The 65th suspect in this long-term investigation was allegedly a “jump-in” to a car involved in an accident. He subsequently altered a Police Accident Report to make it appear that he was an injured passenger. New York Central Mutual Insurance Company was billed more than $9,000 for this suspect’s nonexistent injuries. His arrest was the result of the collaborative efforts of the Insurance Frauds Bureau and the NYPD’s Fraudulent Accident Investigations Squad.
- TASK FORCE 1
Arrested on 1/19/12
Charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree
An investigation by the Albany-based Drug Enforcement Administration Tactical Diversion Task Force, of which the Insurance Frauds Bureau is a member, resulted in the arrest of a suspect charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance. The Task Force investigates organized drug diversion schemes, “doctor shopping” and forgery of controlled substance prescriptions.
- STUNG
Arrested on 1/18/12
Charged with criminal possession of stolen property
An investigation by the Insurance Frauds Bureau and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Insurance Crime Bureau resulted in the arrest of a Long Island man who allegedly stole a 2009 Honda Pilot and then sold it to an undercover police officer at a sting shop.
- LONG-TERM NO-FAULT INVESTIGATION
Arrested on 1/13/12
Charged with insurance fraud, larceny and forgery
The defendant in this ongoing investigation was accused of planning with others, previously arrested, to intentionally crash their vehicle into another vehicle, injuring the driver. Allstate and GEICO Insurance Companies were subsequently billed $10,000 for unnecessary medical treatment. He was the 64th suspect to be arrested in this ongoing investigation being conducted by the Insurance Frauds Bureau and the NYPD’s Fraudulent Accident Investigations Squad.
- STAGED ACCIDENT
Arrested on 1/9/12
Charged with insurance fraud, larceny and forgery
An ongoing investigation by the Insurance Frauds Bureau and the NYPD’s Fraudulent Accident Investigations Squad resulted in the arrest of the 63rd suspect in this case. He was accused of deliberately crashing his vehicle into another vehicle and then seeking medical treatment for injuries he fabricated. As a result, Allstate Insurance Company was billed $20,000 for unnecessary medical care.
- MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATION
Arrested on 1/9/12
Charged with violation of Section 114.1 of the Workers’ Compensation Law
A Suffolk County contractor applied for and was issued a workers’ compensation insurance policy by the State Insurance Fund. On the application, he reported that his company had a payroll of $10,000 and no employees with the exception of himself as a part-time worker. However, an audit of another State Fund policyholder revealed a payment of $190,350 to the defendant’s business. In addition, sign-in documents at a Long Island business at which the contractor had done roofing work showed the signatures of three workers from the contractor’s company on one occasion and “a crew” on another occasion. As a result of the fraud, the contractor avoided paying the State Fund $37,753 in premiums owed. His arrest was the result of an investigation by the Insurance Frauds Bureau and the State Fund.
- TASK FORCE 2
Arrested on 1/5/12
Charged with attempted possession of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree
The Insurance Frauds Bureau and other members of the Albany-based Drug Enforcement Administration Tactical Diversion Task Force conducted an investigation that led to the arrest of two suspects charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. The Task Force investigates organized drug diversion schemes, “doctor shopping” and forgery of controlled substance prescriptions.
- IDENTIFICATION ON LOAN
Arrested on 1/3/12
Charged with insurance fraud in the 4th degree
An upstate woman sought treatment at a Rochester medical facility on 10/19/11. During the course of the treatment, she was asked if she had previously been treated at the facility. She stated that she had not. However, investigators examined medical records that showed someone using her name, insurance benefits card and work identification had received medical treatment on six prior occasions at the facility. When confronted with this information, the suspect signed a statement admitting that she had given her documents to her cousin to use for medical treatment. On 11/17/11, an IFB investigator met with the office manager of the facility and obtained copies of the records. On 12/12/11, the investigator attempted to interview the suspect but she declined. As a result of the alleged fraud, Excellus Health Plan paid $1,570 in benefits for someone not entitled to receive such benefits. The investigation was conducted by the Insurance Frauds Bureau and the Rochester Police Department.
- ONGOING INVESTIGATION
Arrested on 1/3/12
Charged with insurance fraud, larceny and forgery
The defendant in this case allegedly intentionally crashed his vehicle into another vehicle. He subsequently sought treatment for nonexistent injuries for which National Continental Insurance Company was fraudulently billed $36,000. He was the 62nd suspect to be arrested in this long-term case being investigated jointly by the Insurance Frauds Bureau and the NYPD’s Fraudulent Accident Investigations Squad.
- TASK FORCE 3
Arrested on 1/2/12
Charged with criminal possession of marijuana in the 2nd degree
An investigation by the Albany-based Drug Enforcement Administration Tactical Diversion Task Force, of which the Insurance Frauds Bureau is a member, resulted in the arrest of a suspect charged with criminal possession of marijuana. The Task Force investigates organized drug diversion schemes, “doctor shopping” and forgery of controlled substance prescriptions.
