TRENTON - Division of Criminal Justice Director Vaughn L. McKoy announced that a Maryland man currently incarcerated in Camden County Jail has been sentenced to four years in state prison after pleading guilty to stealing insurance monies by breaking the guidelines of an insurance policy.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Richard Farber, 32, formerly of Hi-Nella, Camden County, and currently incarcerated in the Camden County Jail, was ordered by Camden County Superior Court Judge Thomas Brown to serve four years in state prison and to pay more than $5,000 in fines and restitution after pleading guilty to charges contained in a criminal Accusation filed by the Division of Criminal Justice. The Accusation charged theft by deception.

At the Nov. 17 guilty plea hearing, Farber admitted that between Oct. 23 and Nov. 5, 2003, he stole more than $2,000 by breaking the requirements on an insurance policy following an Aug. 20, 2003 burglary at his house. Farber reported to Philadelphia Contributionship Insurance Company that as the result of the burglary, Farber’s 42" plasma television, digital camera, camcorder, notebook computer and scanner had been stolen. Farber supported his claim with receipts showing purchases of those items from Circuit City appliance store. Contributionship Insurance promised Farber $2,069 in holdback money once he replaced the plasma TV. An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor determined that Farber purchased the TV, received the holdback, and then returned the TV to Circuit City, which was in direct violation of the policy requirements.

State Investigator Scott Caponi, Civil Investigator Bonnie Apone, Supervising Deputy Attorney General Lewis J. Korngut and Deputy Attorney General Michael Troso were assigned to the investigation. DAG Troso represented the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor at the Jan. 13 sentencing.

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