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For
Immediate Release: |
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For
Further Information Contact: |
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August
23, 2005
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Office
of The Attorney General
-
Peter C. Harvey,
Attorney General
Division
of Criminal Justice
- Vaughn L. McKoy, Director
Office of the Insurance Fraud
Prosecutor
- Greta Gooden Brown, Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor
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Rachel
Sacharow
609-984-1936
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Former
Essex County Attorney/Pharmacist Pleads
Guilty to Falsifying Claim in Order to Fraudulently
Collect More than $170,700 in Disability
Insurance Monies |
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TRENTON
- Division of Criminal Justice Director
Vaughn L. McKoy announced that an former
Essex County man has pleaded guilty to
falsifying records in order to fraudulently
collect more than $170,700 in disability
insurance monies to which he was not entitled.
According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Greta Gooden Brown, Richard S. Serbin,
61, E. 63rd Street, New York, NY, formerly
of Short Hills, Essex County, pleaded
guilty before Essex County Superior Court
Judge Michael L. Ravin to a criminal Accusation
filed by the Division of Criminal Justice
- Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor,
charging him with fourth degree falsifying
records (4th degree). When sentenced on
Oct. 7, Serbin faces up to 18 months in
state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
He will also be ordered to pay restitution
in an amount decided by the Court. In
addition, Serbin’s case will be
referred to the Office of Attorney Ethics
and the Board which licenses pharmacists
for action as is appropriate.
At the guilty plea hearing, Serbin, who
was licensed as both a pharmacist and
an attorney, admitted that he falsified
a disability claim representing that he
was not employed. The terms of Serbin’s
disability policy state that “total
disability means complete inability of
the insured to perform the substantial
duties of any gainful occupation.”
An investigation by the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
determined that, at the time of the claim,
Serbin was earning wages from HealthSTAR
Communications, Inc., located in Cranford,
Union County.
State Investigator Joseph Wirzbicki, Civil
Investigator Eric Flickinger and Deputy
Attorneys General Steven Cirillo and Michael
Troso were assigned to the investigation.
DAG Troso represented the Division of
Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor at the Aug. 22 guilty
plea hearing. The case was referred to
the Division of Criminal Justice by Prudential
Insurance Company, which was acquired
by Reassure America Life Insurance Company
during the course of the investigation.
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