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Insurance Fraud

Agent Sells Phony Insurance Policy To Shirley Victim, Police Say Agent Sells Phony Insurance Policy To Shirley Victim, Police Say
Agent Sells Phony Insurance Policy To Shirley Victim, Police Say An insurance agent on Long Island is accused of selling a man a bogus policy, and police believe there could be additional victims. Joseph Cawley, age 37, was arrested at his Ridge home on Monday, April 29, following an investigation by Suffolk County Police. According to investigators, a Shirley man reached out to the agency saying he had paid Cawley for an auto insurance policy on Saturday, March 16, but never received any identification cards for the policy. In all, the man paid more than $1,550 for a policy that did not exist. Cawley, who works as an independent insurance broker, is c…
Maybrook Man Steals $30K In Workers' Compensation Intended For Late Mother, DA Says Maybrook Man Steals $30K In Workers' Compensation Intended For Late Mother, DA Says
Maybrook Man Steals $30K In Workers' Compensation Intended For Late Mother, DA Says A Hudson Valley man is among two defendants accused of stealing thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation intended for his late mother. Orange County resident Bryan Dunn, age 51, of Maybrook, and Hunter Diaz, age 26, of Port Richey, Florida, were arraigned on insurance fraud and related charges in Orange County Court on Tuesday, April 16. According to prosecutors, Dunn and Diaz conspired to steal more than $30,000 in workers’ compensation checks that were issued to Dunn’s late mother. The two were arrested following an investigation by the multi-agency Orange County White Collar Crime …
Garden City Man Swindles $235K From Insurance Company, DA Says Garden City Man Swindles $235K From Insurance Company, DA Says
Garden City Man Swindles $235K From Insurance Company, DA Says An employer from Long Island has been arraigned after he allegedly defrauded an insurance company out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by lying about the number of employees he had, authorities said. Sixty-year-old Vassilios Handakas, also known as William or Bill Handakas, faced the charges against him on Thursday, March 28, according to the Nassau County District Attorney. The DA’s Office said that Handakas and Vector Structural Corporation entered a contract for a worker’s compensation policy with an insurance company for coverage between March 2019 and March 2020. In the applicat…
Ex-PA Political Candidate Kills Husband By Burning Him Alive: DA Ex-PA Political Candidate Kills Husband By Burning Him Alive: DA
Ex-PA Political Candidate Kills Husband By Burning Him Alive: DA A former political candidate has been convicted in connection with the murder of her husband — a former chief deputy sheriff of Dauphin County — Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo announced on Thursday. On March 14, Evelyn Henderson (known as Evey Zigerelli when she ran for office in the 1990s) was convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated arson in connection with the death of her 84-year-old husband Carmen Henderson, according to the April 4 release by the DA's office.  Authorities first learned of Carmen's death when Evelyn called 911 claiming he had "set himsel…
Husband, Wife Nabbed For Fatal Saugerties Hit-Run Crash, Police Say Husband, Wife Nabbed For Fatal Saugerties Hit-Run Crash, Police Say
Husband, Wife Nabbed For Fatal Saugerties Hit-Run Crash, Police Say A 42-year-old woman and her husband have been charged in connection with the alleged hit-and-run death of a SUNY student in the region. Related: Update - Fatal Hit-Run: 21-Year-Old Saugerties Woman Identified As Victim Ulster County residents Lacey Maxwell and Ryan Maxwell, age 43, both of Malden, were arrested on Tuesday, March 5 for the incident that occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 10 on Route 9W in the town of Saugerties. According to the Saugerties Police, an extensive investigation determined that Lacey Maxwell was driving her 2021 Subaru south on Route 9W when she struck Starllie …
$90K Fraud: Wallkill Woman Sentenced For Insurance Scam $90K Fraud: Wallkill Woman Sentenced For Insurance Scam
$90K Fraud: Wallkill Woman Sentenced For Insurance Scam A Hudson Valley woman will face time behind bars after she falsified hospital visits for years in order to get money from her insurance company. Orange County resident Shirley Bowens, age 50, received her sentence of two to six years in prison on Tuesday, Feb. 27, the county’s district attorney announced. From 2019 to 2021, the town of Wallkill resident submitted fake bills to her insurance company, claiming that she and members of her family had been hospitalized and gotten various treatments. According to her pleadings, these treatments and visits were all fictitious. In all, Bowens, …
Over $1M Scheme: Everett Mechanics Faked Crashes, Car Damage To Cheat Insurance Agents, DA Says Over $1M Scheme: Everett Mechanics Faked Crashes, Car Damage To Cheat Insurance Agents, DA Says
Over $1M Scheme: Everett Mechanics Faked Crashes, Car Damage To Cheat Insurance Agents, DA Says Six people, including two fugitives, have been charged with defrauding more than $1 million from insurance companies by submitting false claims through their Massachusetts auto-body shop business, officials announced.  The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office announced the indictment of the six defendants on Monday, Feb. 26.  According to the DA's Office, a two-year investigation revealed that Everett-based FT Auto or Riviera Auto had been at the center of a "wide-ranging scheme" to defraud several insurance carriers.  As part of the scheme, the defendants would orche…
Man Busted In Orange County Insurance Fraud Case, DA Says Man Busted In Orange County Insurance Fraud Case, DA Says
Man Busted In Orange County Insurance Fraud Case, DA Says A Long Island man was busted in the Hudson Valley for alleged insurance fraud for providing a fake address to receive a cheaper insurance rate. Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Nassau County resident Victor Coles, age 35, of Westbury, was arrested by the multi-agency Orange County White Collar Crime Task Force and charged with insurance fraud.  As alleged in charges filed in court, Coles submitted a written application for car insurance using a false address. As a result of the misrepresentation, the defendant’s insurance premiums were fraudulently reduc…
NJ Doc Accused Of Sexually Abusing Patients Now Charged With Insurance Fraud: Prosecutor NJ Doc Accused Of Sexually Abusing Patients Now Charged With Insurance Fraud: Prosecutor
NJ Doc Accused Of Sexually Abusing Patients Now Charged With Insurance Fraud: Prosecutor A New Jersey doctor accused of sexually abusing six of his patients has now been charged with insurance fraud — as has his office manager, authorities said. Gurvindra Johal, 56, of Colonia, was arrested back in March for  inappropriately touching of two patients under his care at an urgent care center on Broad Street in Newark, according to Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens. Another woman later came forward saying the physician sexually assaulted her while under his care at Amboy Urgent Care, located at 469 Cornell Street, Perth Amboy, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yola…
Medical Company Data Breach: Affected NY Residents Warned Of Potential Identity Theft Medical Company Data Breach: Affected NY Residents Warned Of Potential Identity Theft
Medical Company Data Breach: Affected NY Residents Warned Of Potential Identity Theft Millions of New Yorkers are being warned by Attorney General Leticia James to protect themselves against identity theft following a data breach at a medical transcription company.  The warning, issued by James on Tuesday, Nov. 28, urges New York residents to take action to prevent their identities from being stolen in the midst of a data breach at medical transcription company Perry Johnson & Associates.  The Nevada-based company, which provides transcription services to healthcare organizations and physicians to help them dictate and transcribe patient notes, first becam…
PA Man Charged With Torching NJ Home For Insurance Money PA Man Charged With Torching NJ Home For Insurance Money
PA Man Charged With Torching NJ Home For Insurance Money A Pennsylvania man already awaiting trial in connection with other incidents was charged with setting fire to a former home in Cherry Hill to collect on the insurance. Richard Orlandini, 62, of Wilkes Barre, collected at least $75,000 from Allstate by "recklessly placing others in danger of death or bodily injury,"  New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. Firefighters reported finding the two-story single-family home on Chapel Avenue West well-involved shortly before 1:30 a.m. Oct. 20, 2018. No injuries were reported and the house had to be demolished. Orlandini deli…
Scheming Mechanic In Harford County Sentenced For $223K Scam Targeting Insurance Companies: AG Scheming Mechanic In Harford County Sentenced For $223K Scam Targeting Insurance Companies: AG
Scheming Mechanic In Harford County Sentenced For $223K Scam Targeting Insurance Companies: AG it didn't take long for a mechanic working at a Maryland auto dealership to scam customers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and now he will be heading back to prison, according to the state Attorney General. Parkville resident Kenneth Wayne Collins III, 35, who was only employed at a Bel Air car dealership in Harford County between January and November 2018, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with all but four years suspended, after he admitted to a theft scheme after he made 260 fraudulent claims for fake mechanical repairs that were issued by three insurance companies. In t…
NJ Woman, 72, Indicted For Using Dead Caregiver's Info To Keep Collecting Insurance Payments NJ Woman, 72, Indicted For Using Dead Caregiver's Info To Keep Collecting Insurance Payments
NJ Woman, 72, Indicted For Using Dead Caregiver's Info To Keep Collecting Insurance Payments A 72-year-old New Jersey woman used phony timesheets and a bogus bank account from a dead caregiver to fraudulently collect insurance payments for long-term care from him, state authorities charged. Leoncia Hutchinson of Metuchen deposited the payments from the Continental Casualty Company into a dedicated account, then slid the funds back into her own, an indictment returned by a grand jury in Trenton alleges. For six months, Hutchinson treated the man’s death as “a moneymaking opportunity,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in announcing the indictment on Wednesday, Nov.…
Scheming Mechanic In Harford County Busted For $223K Scam Targeting Insurance Companies: AG Scheming Mechanic In Harford County Busted For $223K Scam Targeting Insurance Companies: AG
Scheming Mechanic In Harford County Busted For $223K Scam Targeting Insurance Companies: AG it didn't take long for a mechanic working at a Maryland auto dealership to scam customers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to the state Attorney General. Parkville resident Kenneth Wayne Collins III, 35, who was only employed at a Bel Air car dealership in Harford County between January and November 2018, was found guilty of theft scheme after he made 260 fraudulent claims for fake mechanical repairs that were issued by three insurance companies. In total, Collins pocketed more than $223,000 in connection to the scam, which he continued through May 2019. Earlier this wee…
Insurance Agent, Police Officer From Long Valley Teamed Up To Defraud Client: Prosecutor Insurance Agent, Police Officer From Long Valley Teamed Up To Defraud Client: Prosecutor
Insurance Agent, Police Officer From Long Valley Teamed Up To Defraud Client: Prosecutor A Bergen County insurance agent created false documents to help a Long Valley business owner defraud a client at his painting business, authorities in Morris County said. Michael McFadden, a 54-year-old New Milford resident and insurance agent at Insuranze Associates in Hasbrouck Heights, created false documents claiming Long Valley's Christopher Angst had a workman's compensation coverage policy, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and Morris County Chief of Detectives Robert McNally said. Angst, 48, is the owner of C&E Professional Painting in Long Valley, and a …
$1M Fraud: Chiropractor In East Meadow Gets Prison After Billing For Ghost Services $1M Fraud: Chiropractor In East Meadow Gets Prison After Billing For Ghost Services
$1M Fraud: Chiropractor In East Meadow Gets Prison After Billing For Ghost Services A Long Island chiropractor will spend time in federal prison after fraudulently obtaining nearly $1 million in insurance payouts for services that were never provided. Peter Adamczack, age 66, of Huntington, was sentenced to one year and a day behind bars in federal court in Central Islip on Monday, July 31. It came one year after he pleaded guilty to health care fraud in August 2022, admitting that he billed a private insurance company over $1 million for acupuncture services that were never performed at his East Meadow office. Earlier Report: Huntington Chiropractor Admits To $1 M…
Bayonne Man Popped For Insurance Fraud: Prosecutors Bayonne Man Popped For Insurance Fraud: Prosecutors
Bayonne Man Popped For Insurance Fraud: Prosecutors A 26-year-old Bayonne man was arrested and charged with submitting a fake insurance claim for a car crash, authorities said. Frank Olivero was arrested by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Insurance Fraud Unit on Tuesday, May 23, Esther Suarez said. Olivero filed a claim with Progressive Insurance Company falsely claiming his 2017 Honda Civic was damaged while he was parked in New York City in January 2003, Suarez said. The damage had actually occurred prior to that date, Suarez said.  Olivero was charged with insurance fraud in the third degree and was released pending his first c…
Details Emerge Around Widow Of NJ ‘Animal Whisperer’ Who Continued Vet Practice Without License Details Emerge Around Widow Of NJ ‘Animal Whisperer’ Who Continued Vet Practice Without License
Details Emerge Around Widow Of NJ ‘Animal Whisperer’ Who Continued Vet Practice Without License The widow of a revered North Jersey veterinarian known as the “animal whisperer” had help from two alleged co-conspirators from New York in continuing to operate her husband’s clinic without a license, it was recently revealed. Alia Muslih, 41, of Montclair originally was accused of posing as a veterinarian following her husband’s death in order to keep the Totowa Animal Hospital open. A massive 77-count grand jury indictment returned earlier this month in Paterson lays out additional details. Included are allegations that Muslih had help from Marco A. Gamarra, 64, of the Bronx and Yaser I…
PA Mom Caught Prostituting To Undercover State Trooper At Hair Salon: Affidavit PA Mom Caught Prostituting To Undercover State Trooper At Hair Salon: Affidavit
PA Mom Caught Prostituting To Undercover State Trooper At Hair Salon: Affidavit A Craiglist advertisement and a sudden uptick in male salon customers led Pennsylvania State Police to run a sting operation at a hair salon in Burgettstown on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, according to court documents obtained by Daily Voice.  Mom of two, 51-year-old Amy Zlobin's inmate details were being shared by "Johns" on an adult chatroom over 24 times on the website ECCIE.net—  along with sexual services that she would offer and the phone number of her salon where she allegedly was selling men those services, state police vice squad troopers investigating the case detailed in the affida…
78-Year-Old PA Woman Robbed Husband For Years Before Poisoning His Coffee, Jury Finds 78-Year-Old PA Woman Robbed Husband For Years Before Poisoning His Coffee, Jury Finds
78-Year-Old PA Woman Robbed Husband For Years Before Poisoning His Coffee, Jury Finds A 78-year-old Pennsylvania woman had been fleecing her husband's finances for years before she fatally poisoned him to keep the theft a secret, a Union County jury has found.  Myrle Miller of Winfield was convicted of first-degree murder for her husband's 2018 death, as well as felony theft by deception, forgery, insurance fraud, and related counts, said Attorney General Michelle Henry's Office in a release. In the months before John Nichols died, a grand jury investigation found that Miller had systemically drained her husband's bank accounts and forged his signature on checks, author…
Suspected Arsonists Face Federal Charges For Pizzeria Fire That Killed Philly Fireman Suspected Arsonists Face Federal Charges For Pizzeria Fire That Killed Philly Fireman
Suspected Arsonists Face Federal Charges For Pizzeria Fire That Killed Philly Fireman Two Philadelphia could face up to life in prison after federal prosecutors say they deliberately set a fire that killed a city firefighter last summer.  Al-Ashraf Khalil and Isaam Jaghama, both 29, are charged with malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce and conspiracy to commit the same, said US Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero in a release.  Federal investigators believe the pair set the blaze at 300 W. Indiana Ave. on June 18, 2022, that killed 51-year-old fireman Sean Williamson. He and four other first responders were in the structure when it collapsed…
NJ Owner Burned Down Chesco Business To Collect Insurance, DA Says NJ Owner Burned Down Chesco Business To Collect Insurance, DA Says
NJ Owner Burned Down Chesco Business To Collect Insurance, DA Says A New Jersey man who authorities say faced "numerous financial stressors" is accused of setting fire to his Chester County automotive business to reap the insurance payout, says District Attorney Deb Ryan.  Giuseppe Deangelis, 45, of Ventnor City, is charged with arson, insurance fraud, reckless endangerment, and other counts related to the fire that destroyed his J&G Automotive in Kennett Square in 2021, prosecutors said.  Firefighters were called to the J&G, 340 Cream Street, around 1 a.m. on May 3 that year to find "heavy fire and smoke," according to part of the crimin…
Jersey City Men Pull Switcheroo In Attempt To Milk Money Out Of Mercedes Benz Crash: Prosecutor Jersey City Men Pull Switcheroo In Attempt To Milk Money Out Of Mercedes Benz Crash: Prosecutor
Jersey City Men Pull Switcheroo In Attempt To Milk Money Out Of Mercedes Benz Crash: Prosecutor Two Jersey City men have been charged with insurance fraud after prosecutors claim they tried to pull a switcheroo following a car crash in 2022. Shelton Sutton and Kevin London, both 36, were arrested following an investigation from the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Insurance Fraud Unit. Sutton was arrested on Monday, April 3, while London was arrested back in February, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.  Sutton was involved in a crash in Jersey City in March 2022 while driving a Mercedes Benz owned by London, Suarez said. During the crash investigation, Sutton identifie…
Saugerties Man Charged With Burning Car, Filing Fraudulent Claim, Police Say Saugerties Man Charged With Burning Car, Filing Fraudulent Claim, Police Say
Saugerties Man Charged With Burning Car, Filing Fraudulent Claim, Police Say A Hudson Valley man has been charged with arson after allegedly having his car burned and then filing a fraudulent claim. Ulster County resident William Duryea, age 27, of Saugerties, was arrested on Monday, March 27 by state police, said Trooper Steven Nevel. On Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, Duryea went to work at 10 p.m. at the Ulster Service Area on I-87. Around 11:20 p.m. he received a call from Kingston Police telling him that his vehicle was found on fire in Hasbrouck Park, Nevel said. Nevel said Duryea told police that he left his keys in the car when he went to work, and someone must h…
Newburgh Restaurateur Sentenced For Burning Down Eatery, Endangering Others Newburgh Restaurateur Sentenced For Burning Down Eatery, Endangering Others
Newburgh Restaurateur Sentenced For Burning Down Eatery, Endangering Others A former Hudson Valley restaurateur has been sentenced to prison for intentionally burning down his restaurant and endangering the lives of his wife and first responders. Orange County resident Zef Gjurashaj, age 60, of Newburgh, was sentenced Wednesday, March 1. Gjurashaj, who was convicted by a jury in September 2022, was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison for burning down Andiamo’s Restaurant, which was located at 5025 Route 9W, in the Town of Newburgh in 2017, the Orange County DA's Office said. Prior to the trial, Gjurashaj’s co-defendant and the wife of his nephew…
PA Doctor Uses Ex-Patients Health Insurance To Get Recreational Drugs, AG Says PA Doctor Uses Ex-Patients Health Insurance To Get Recreational Drugs, AG Says
PA Doctor Uses Ex-Patients Health Insurance To Get Recreational Drugs, AG Says A Pennsylvania doctor was arrested for allegedly using her patients' information to acquire drugs for herself for recreational use, according to the state's attorney general's office on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.  Dr. Jessie Kunkel, of Murrysville, allegedly had been prescribing patients drugs like Adderall and Xanax, but kept a portion of the pills for herself in exchange for writing the prescriptions— something she had been doing since 2018. “As a medical professional, Dr. Kunkel was trusted to care for her patients and her community,” Acting AG Michelle Henry said. “She violated…
$40M Fraud: New Canaan Insurance Firm Owner Admits To Scam, Could Face Decades In Prison $40M Fraud: New Canaan Insurance Firm Owner Admits To Scam, Could Face Decades In Prison
$40M Fraud: New Canaan Insurance Firm Owner Admits To Scam, Could Face Decades In Prison A "brazen" insurance company owner from Fairfield County admitted to $40 million of insurance fraud that paid for expenses relating to boating, luxury cars, and golf, officials say.  In a New York federal court, Anthony Riccardi, of New Canaan, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud on Tuesday, Feb. 21, according to the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.  Riccardi, the 50-percent co-owner and executive vice president of Employee Benefit Solutions LLC, a Connecticut insurance firm, was …
Bergen Woman Charged With Insurance Fraud: Passaic Prosecutor Bergen Woman Charged With Insurance Fraud: Passaic Prosecutor
Bergen Woman Charged With Insurance Fraud: Passaic Prosecutor A 27-year-old Bergen County woman has been charged with insurance fraud, authorities said. Brianna Ribaudo, of East Rutherford, was arrested on Friday, Feb. 3, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. On Oct. 9, 2019, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office got a tip that Ribaudo gave false information in an attempt to get insurance coverage for multiple motor vehicles, officials said. The investigation revealed that Ribaudo obtained coverage for vehicles for which she had no ownership interest. Ribaudo was processed and released and will be appearing in Central Judicial Pr…
Little Ferry Laborer Torched Truck For Insurance Money, Authorities Charge Little Ferry Laborer Torched Truck For Insurance Money, Authorities Charge
Little Ferry Laborer Torched Truck For Insurance Money, Authorities Charge A laborer from Little Ferry was charged with torching his pickup truck outside his own home for the insurance money. Louis M. Molino, 40, was arrested soon after firefighters responding to a quiet Couchon Drive neighborhood near Route 46 found the 2008 Nissan Frontier ablaze around 11:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. Little Ferry police and members of Musella’s Major Crimes Unit, assisted by the Bergen County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Identification, collected enough evidence to charge Molina with aggravated arson, arson and risking widespread injury o…
Passaic County Chiropractor Charged With $372,000 Insurance Fraud Passaic County Chiropractor Charged With $372,000 Insurance Fraud
Passaic County Chiropractor Charged With $372,000 Insurance Fraud A 69-year-old chiropractor from Passaic County was charged with submitting $372,000 worth of bogus insurance claims, authorities said. Patrick Capizzi of North Haledon was released pending a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Paterson following his arrest on Monday, Jan. 9, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announced on Tuesday. Members of her Insurance Fraud Unit charged Capizzi with healthcare claims fraud and tax evasion, the prosecutor said. They began examining Capizzi’s practice in late October 2020 after receiving “a report of inappropriate billi…
Real Attorney Rats Out Levittown Imposter Who Swindled Cash From Clients: DA Real Attorney Rats Out Levittown Imposter Who Swindled Cash From Clients: DA
Real Attorney Rats Out Levittown Imposter Who Swindled Cash From Clients: DA A Bucks County man who practiced law for nearly a decade now needs a lawyer himself, after authorities learned he was not a licensed attorney.  Michael J. McAndrew, 57, of Morrisville, owned and operated Superior Legal Services on Woodbourne Road in Levittown for more than seven years, collecting thousands of dollars in legal fees from clients who thought he was an actual attorney, said Bucks DA Matthew Weintraub Thursday, Dec. 22.  Detectives began investigating McAndrew after receiving a tip from an actual lawyer, the DA said.  The attorney claimed he'd "worked with" McAnd…