TRENTON
- Division of Criminal Justice Director
Vaughn L. McKoy announced that the Division
of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor has obtained an indictment
charging three Union County residents
with insurance fraud for their roles in
an alleged automobile insurance Personal
Injury Protection (PIP) fraud scam.
According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Greta Gooden-Brown, Ayana D. Torres, 29,
Elizabeth Avenue, Elizabeth, Union County;
Geraldo Torres, 28, whose last know address
was also Elizabeth Avenue, Elizabeth;
and Ayana Torres’ brother, Jose
Rivera, 30, whose last known address was
Bank Street, Elizabeth, were charged by
the Division of Criminal Justice - Office
of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor with conspiracy
to commit Health Care Claims Fraud and
Health Care Claims Fraud (both 2nd degree),
and theft by deception (3rd degree). If
convicted of all charges, each defendant
faces up to 25 years and a fine of up
to $315,000. In addition, defendants face
the possibility of the imposition of civil
insurance fraud fines pursuant to the
Insurance Fraud Prevention Act.
The Union County Grand Jury indictment
alleges that between March and November
2000, Ayana Torres, Geraldo Torres and
Rivera conspired to submit false PIP claims
to State Farm Insurance. It is charged
that on March 10, 2000, Ayana Torres went
to Highway Service Garage, Trumbull Street,
Elizabeth to pick up her car. The car
had been towed by the police because it
did not have a valid inspection sticker
and Rivera, who was driving the vehicle
at the time, did not have a valid driver’s
license. According to the indictment,
when Ayana Torres started the vehicle
it lurched forward and struck another
vehicle.
An investigation by the Division of Criminal
Justice determined that, despite the fact
that Geraldo Torres and Jose Rivera were
not in the vehicle at the time it lurched
forward, PIP claims worth more than $1,200
were submitted to State Farm Insurance
Company on their behalf. State Farm denied
the claim and referred the matter to the
Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor for
investigation.
State Investigators Lisa Egan and Thomas
Harrington, Civil Investigator Eileen
Bellantine, and Deputy Attorney General
Philip J. Mogavero were assigned to the
investigation. DAG Mogavero represented
the Division of Criminal Justice - Office
of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor before the
Union County Grand Jury.
"A
false automobile accident claim requires
that a person be willing to lie multiple
times - to police officers, insurance
carriers, doctors and attorneys - and
it is this lengthy pattern of deception
that makes these crimes so troubling,"
Fraud Prosecutor Gooden-Brown said. "This
indictment sends a strong message to those
who would choose to involve themselves
in this type of criminal activity."
Noting that some important cases have
begun with anonymous tips from the public,
Prosecutor Brown emphasized that individuals
can make a difference. “We need
people’s information, not their
identities. People who are concerned about
insurance cheating and have any information
about a fraud can call our toll-free hotline
at 1-877-55-FRAUD, or visit our Web site
at www.NJInsurancefraud.org .”.
The indictment, which was handed up on
May 6, is merely an accusation. The defendants
are presumed innocent unless and until
proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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