May 6, 10

NEWS / Seven North Jersey Residents Charged In Auto Give Up Scheme

TRENTON - Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor has obtained five separate indictments charging a total of seven people for falsely reporting that their cars had been stolen.

The charges stem from an ongoing investigation into an automobile “give up” scheme. The leader of the scheme, Jose Torres, 37, of Paterson, was previously sentenced to eight years in state prison, with five years of parole ineligibility.

According to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Riza Dagli, the indictments returned by the Morris County grand jury charged the following defendants:

State v. Clara Crockett and Brian Adams. Crockett, 67, of Passaic, and her son Adams, 42, of Passaic, were each charged with third-degree insurance fraud, third-degree theft by deception, and third-degree tampering with public records or information. The indictment alleges that between Sept. 18 and Dec. 8, 2006, Crockett and Adams falsely reported to the Passaic Police Department that their 2002 Lexus IS300 had been stolen, and they subsequently obtained $18,511 from the Mercury Insurance Group for the purported theft.

State v. Jorge Osorio-Jaramillo. Osorio-Jaramillo, 30, whose last known address was in Paterson, was charged with third-degree insurance fraud, third-degree theft by deception, third-degree tampering with public records or information, and fourth-degree falsifying records. The indictment alleges that between Oct. 31 and Nov. 30, 2006, Osorio-Jaramillo falsely reported to the Lodi Police Department that his 2005 Nissan Altima had been stolen, and he subsequently obtained $16,929 from Mercury Insurance Group by filing a false affidavit of vehicle theft.

State v. Maria E. Pagan. Pagan, 51, of Paterson, was charged with third-degree insurance fraud, third-degree theft by deception, third-degree tampering with public records or information, and fourth-degree falsifying records. The indictment alleges that between Sept. 21 and Nov. 16, 2006, Pagan falsely reported to the Paterson Police Department that her 2006 Honda Accord had been stolen, and she subsequently obtained $23,830 from State Farm Insurance Company by filing a false affidavit of vehicle theft.

State v. James Sgambati. Sgambati, 31, of Parsippany, was charged with third-degree insurance fraud, third-degree theft by deception, third-degree tampering with public records or information, and fourth-degree falsifying records. The indictment alleges that between Sept. 12 and Oct. 25, 2006, Sgambati falsely reported to the Paterson Police Department that his 2006 Dodge Charger had been stolen, and he subsequently obtained $31,466 from New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company by filing a false affidavit of vehicle theft.

State v. Robert R. Silverio and Jessica V. Silverio. Robert R. Silverio, 39, of Paterson, and his wife, Jessica V. Silverio, 34, also of Paterson, were each charged with third-degree insurance fraud, third-degree theft by deception, third-degree tampering with public records or information, and fourth-degree falsifying records. The indictment alleges that between Sept. 7 and Oct. 9, 2006, the Silverios falsely reported to the Paterson Police Department that their 2006 Toyota Camry had been stolen, and they subsequently obtained $16,740 from the Allstate Insurance Company by filing a false affidavit of vehicle theft.

Lieutenant Vincent Gaeta and Deputy Attorney General John J. Higgins were assigned to the investigation. Deputy Attorney General Higgins presented the cases to the Morris County grand jury. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Dagli thanked the Mercury Insurance Group, New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company, Allstate Insurance Company and State Farm Insurance Company for their assistance in this investigation.

The indictments, which were voted on April 28 but filed in court today, are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a fine of $15,000, while fourth-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison and a fine of $10,000.

http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases10/pr20100505c.html

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