N.J. Office of Fraud Prosecutor Charges Pa. Woman with Bilking Money from State Disability Fund

New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey announced the Division of Criminal Justice – Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor has charged a Pennsylvania woman with theft, forgery and falsifying documents for allegedly collecting disability insurance payments while employed at a Middlesex County doctor’s office.

According to Vaughn McKoy, Director, Division of Criminal Justice and Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Suzanne Shenk, 31, of Pocono Summit, was charged in a Passaic County Grand Jury indictment with theft by deception (3rd degree), forgery (3rd degree) and falsifying documents (4th degree). The indictment was handed-up in Passaic County Superior Court.

If convicted on all charges, Shenk faces up to eight years in state prison and a fine of up to $35,000. Shenk will be ordered to appear in Passaic County Superior Court for arraignment and bail on a date to be set by the court.

The Division of Criminal Justice – Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s investigation reportedly determined that between Feb. 1 and May 14, 2002, Shenk fraudulently collected more than $1,200 in disability insurance payments from the Aetna Insurance Company by concealing the fact that she was not disabled while employed during the claim period.

The investigation determined that Shenk was employed at a South Plainfield physician’s office. The indictment alleges that Shenk forged one letter and falsified another in support of the disability claims filed with Aetna Insurance.