Insurance fraud of all types in New Jersey costs each New Jersey family $1,300 per year in the form of increased premiums, according to the New Jersey Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.
Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced recently that five people were indicted last week for submitting fraudulent automobile insurance information to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission in order to register vehicles without having to pay for insurance coverage.
The following people were indicted by a Burlington County Grand Jury on one count each of Falsifying or Tampering with Records (Fourth Degree):
· Marco Diaz, 36, of Main Street in New Hanover Township.
· Latavious McCaskill, 25, of Kinsley Road in Pemberton Township.
· Mark Richards, 37, of Market Street in Camden.
· Ronnie Sutton, 62, of Kinsley Road in Pemberton Township.
· Maddie Washington, 59, of Spiralwood Lane in Willingboro.
The investigation revealed that during the months of May and June 2017, the defendants submitted fraudulent insurance information while registering their motor vehicles at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission office in Mount Holly. This allowed for the vehicles to be legally registered without having to purchase the required insurance.
Insurance fraud of all types in New Jersey costs each New Jersey family $1,300 per year in the form of increased premiums, according to the New Jersey Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.
“This is a crime that affects us all,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “Providing bogus auto insuance information increases premiums for us all, and puts people who play by the rules at risk for uncompensated injuries and property damage. Our Office will continue working with the Motor Vehicle Commission and other partners to identify those who are committing insurance fraud and make sure they are held accountable for their illegal conduct.”
Arraignments will be held soon in Superior Court. The indictments were returned September 5 and signed by Prosecutor Coffina.
The case is being prosecuted by Burlington County Assistant Prosecutor Josh Dennis, supervisor of the Prosecutor’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit. The investigation was conducted by the BCPO Insurance Fraud Unit and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The lead investigators were BCPO Insurance Fraud Detective Kyle Gardner and MVC Investigator Kenneth Lemanowicz.