TRENTON
- Division of Criminal Justice Director
Vaughn L. McKoy announced that a Monmouth
County man has been ordered to pay more
than $19,800 after pleading guilty for
his role in a workers compensation insurance
fraud scam.
According to Director McKoy and Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden-Brown, Douglas
E. “David” Fittinger, 59,
East Main Street, Manasquan, Monmouth
County, was ordered by Monmouth County
Superior Court Judge Bette Uhrmacher to
pay $14,882 restitution and a $5,000 civil
fine. Fittinger was also ordered to serve
five years probation and complete 325
hours of community service. Fittinger
had previously pleaded guilty to a criminal
Accusation filed by the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor,
charging him with theft by deception (3rd
degree).
At the April 22 guilty plea hearing, Fittinger
admitted that between Feb.1 and June 10,
2003, he wrongfully obtained workers compensation
payments from his employer, Ralph Clayton
and Sons Concrete, located in Lakewood,
Ocean County. Ralph Clayton and Sons Concrete
is self-insured for workers compensation
insurance meaning that it, rather than
an insurance company, makes workers compensation
insurance payments. It administers its
own workers compensation insurance plan.
Fittinger admitted that he claimed total
disability from his job as a truck driver
in order to steal more than $14,880 in
workers compensation insurance money when,
in fact, he was not disabled. An investigation
by the Division of Criminal Justice -
Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor determined
that Fittinger was dancing at a night
club, training as a firefighter, working
on a boat, and engaging in other conduct
inconsistent with his claim of total disability.
State Investigator Carlos Ortiz, Civil
Investigator Angelo Vastano, and Deputy
Attorneys General Peter W. Lee and DAG
Michael Troso were assigned to the investigation.
DAG Troso represented the Division of
Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor at the June 24 sentencing
hearing.