N.J. Man Drives Off to Jail in Auto Scam

New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Director Vaughn McKoy announced that a Middlesex County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in an automobile “give up” fraud.

According to McKoy and Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden-Brown, George T. Guden, 58, of Port Reading, Middlesex County, was ordered by Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Frederick DeVesa to serve 364 days in Middlesex County jail as a condition of a five-year term of probation.

In addition, Guden was ordered to pay $4,000 restitution and a $5,000 civil insurance fraud fine. Guden’s wife, Angela M. Guden, 56, same address, was ordered by Judge DeVesa to serve four years probation and to pay $4,000 restitution and a $5,000 civil insurance fraud fine.

Gooden-Brown noted that the Gudens pleaded guilty before Judge DeVesa on Feb. 28 to a charge of conspiracy to commit theft by deception. The Gudens were initially charged on June 17, 2004, via a Middlesex County Grand Jury indictment.

In pleading guilty, the Gudens reportedly admitted that between January and March 2002, Angela Guden reported that her Lincoln Mark VIII car had been stolen from the Woodbridge Mall. The stolen vehicle report was made to the Woodbridge Police Department.

It was charged that Guden falsely reported the car stolen in order to file an automobile insurance theft claim with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company subsequently paid more than $12,300 for the loss of the vehicle.

An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice – Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor determined that George “Tommy” Guden and Michael Guden, 26, same address, took Angela Guden’s car and turned it over to John E. Gassert, 49, Hancock, New York.

The Linclon was later recovered in Gassert’s possession, who was reportedly paid $100 by George Guden to dispose of the car and promised another $125 when the job was complete. Guden’s son, Michael, and Gassert have been sentenced for their roles in the scheme.