TRENTON - Division of Criminal Justice
Director Vaughn L. McKoy and Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden-Brown announced
that a Hudson County man has been sentenced
for his role in an automobile “give
up” scam.
According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Gooden-Brown, Israel Rivera, 34, Second
Street, Jersey City, Hudson County, was
ordered by Hudson County Superior Court
Judge Peter J. Vasquez to pay $10, 400
in restitution and to serve five-years
probation. In addition, Rivera was ordered
to pay a $5,000 civil fine. Rivera was
sentenced after pleading guilty to a criminal
Accusation filed by the Division
of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor which charged insurance
fraud (3rd degree).
At the Nov. 8, 2004 guilty plea, Rivera
admitted that in July 2003 to falsely
reporting to the Liberty Mutual Insurance
Company that his 2001 Honda Civic had
been stolen. An investigation by the Division
of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor determined that Rivera
subsequently submitted an automobile insurance
theft claim in the amount of $10,398.
The insurance claim was paid by Liberty
Mutual to satisfy the car loan and towing
and storage charges.
An investigation by the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
determined that Rivera’s car was
found in Philadelphia prior to the date
he reported the theft of the vehicle to
Liberty Mutual. Fraud investigators assigned
to Liberty Mutual became suspicious of
the claim and referred the case to the
Division of Criminal Justice - Office
of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.
State Investigator George Meyers, Jr.,
Civil Investigator Frank Crosson, and
Deputy Attorney General Frank L. Holstein
were assigned to the investigation. DAG
Holstein represented the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
at the sentencing.
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