TRENTON
- Criminal Justice Director Vaughn L.
McKoy announced that the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
has obtained an indictment charging a
former Essex County insurance company
employee with allegedly stealing insurance
premium monies from insurance purchasers.
According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Greta Gooden Brown, Lisa Brown, 29, of
Taylor Street, Orange, Essex County, was
charged with two counts of theft by deception
(3rd degree). If convicted, Brown faces
up to 10 years in state prison and a criminal
fine of up to $30,000. Brown also faces
the possibility of the imposition of civil
insurance fraud fines.
The Union County Grand Jury indictment
alleges that between Nov. 12, 2001 and
Feb. 20, 2002, Brown, in her capacity
as a claims service representative for
Fleet Insurance Services, stole insurance
premium money from several persons who
wished to purchase automobile insurance.
An investigation by the Division of Criminal
Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
determined that Brown accepted more than
$3,000 in insurance premium money perspective
customers with the promise that she could
obtain auto insurance at a low rate. It
is charged that, after receiving the money,
Brown issued fraudulent Chubb Insurance
Company documents, including a policy
binder, as well as a fraudulent First
Trenton Indemnity Company policy binder.
The investigation further revealed that,
as a result of the scam, the victims were
left without valid automobile insurance.
Brown was neither licensed nor authorized
to sell insurance or accept premiums as
a licensed insurance agent.
State Investigator Scott Stevens, and
Deputy Attorney General Richard W. Queen
were assigned to the investigation. DAG
Queen represented the Office of Insurance
Fraud Prosecutor before the Union County
Grand Jury.
The indictment is merely an accusation.
The defendant is presumed innocent unless
and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable
doubt.