N.J. Man Pleads Guilty to $27,000 Fraud Scheme

New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Director Vaughn McKoy announced that a Warren County man has pleaded guilty to falsely reporting the theft of his Land Rover and attempting to collect more than $27,000 in insurance money as part of the “give up” scam.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden-Brown, Roberto Ferreira, 30, of Warren, Warren County, pleaded guilty before Essex County Superior Court Judge Donald Volkert to a criminal Accusation which charged third degree insurance fraud. When sentenced on July 6, Ferreira faces up to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000. In addition, Ferreira faces civil insurance fraud fines pursuant to the civil Insurance Fraud Prevention Act.

At the May 17 guilty plea hearing, Ferreira reportedly admitted that on Sept. 8, 2004, to falsely reporting his 2000 Land Rover stolen to the Newark Police Department. Ferreira reported the vehicle stolen after leaving World’s Gym, Oliver Street and Route 21 in Newark. Ferreira subsequently submitted a phony stolen automobile insurance claim worth more than $27,000 to the Preserver Group Insurance Company.

As part of the reported fraudulent insurance claim, Ferreira claimed that the Land Rover contained golf clubs valued at $2,300. An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice – Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor determined Ferreira’s Land Rover had been impounded by the New York Sanitation Department on July 12, 2004.