Trial Insurance Fraud

A BLAIRGOWRIE woman will face trial at Perth Sheriff Court on August 25, charged with a £12,000-plus insurance fraud.

Christina White (36), of Davie Park Place, Rattray, is also alleged to have attempted to dishonestly obtain a further £10,000 three years later by claiming her property had again been broken into.

She had a preliminary hearing set for July 30 after pleading not guilty by letter to the two charges,.

The first alleges that on May 9, 2005, at her home, she pretended to the Co-op Insurance that her home had been the subject of a housebreaking, when a quantity of porcelain, goods, alcohol and jewellery had been stolen and induced them to pay her £12,257.54p, which she obtained by fraud.

A second charge alleges that on July 7, 2008, she claimed there had been another housebreaking and similar items taken and attempted to induce the insurance company to pay her £10,452.

Insurance Fraud charged to Rochester Planning Board member

ROCHESTER — Police arrested a member of the city's Planning Board this week on a Class A felony charge of insurance fraud alleging he made a false burglary report in 2004.

Eugene McCarthy Jr., 44, of 95 England Road in Gonic was arrested Thursday. Police are charging him with insurance fraud for allegedly filing a false burglary report and insurance claim in 2004.

Sgt. Anthony Deluca said McCarthy filed a claim reporting someone had broken into his home and stolen numerous items valued at approximately $8,000. The most expensive items reported stolen were two Rolex watches.

Deluca could not comment extensively on how police were able to charge McCarthy with insurance fraud five years after it allegedly occurred, saying he did not want to comment on the investigation. Police do have the two watches, which contributed to the arrest, Deluca said.

"We have the Rolexes, I can tell you that much," Deluca said.

Planning Director Kenn Ortmann was surprised by the news about McCarthy, who he described as a "valuable member" of the Planning Board.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Ortmann said.

McCarthy is a regular member of the board. His term expires on Jan. 2, 2011.

The City Council appoints the board's members. Ortmann said there are no qualifications for the Planning Board regarding a police background check and nothing to suggest that McCarthy would be removed from the board because of these charges, which have nothing to do with his duties to the city.

"At least in the immediate future it is up to him," Ortmann said. "I don't know what his intentions are."

McCarthy did not return a message left at his home Friday afternoon.

Ortmann said the City Council does have the authority to remove members of the Planning Board, but it has never happened to his knowledge and does not know how that would happen.

City Manager John Scruton declined to comment on the situation Friday.

"Without further details, I have no comment at this time," Scruton said in an e-mail.

Police said McCarthy's bail was set at $5,000 personal recognizance. Court documents indicate he is scheduled for arraignment on June 15.

Fraud charges for Azusa man

A 56-year-old man surrendered to investigators with the with the San Bernardino District Attorney's Auto insurance Fraud Unit Wednesday.

Louis Martinez of Azusa was charged with insurance fraud violations related to a claim he filed in 2007, according to information from the District Attorney's office.

Martinez filed a claim in 2007, related to the alleged theft of his Chrysler 300.

He filed a theft report with Pomona police which alleged that his vehicle was stolen from the L.A. County Fair.

He later filed a theft report with State Farm.

Investigators later found that his vehicle was crossing the Mexican border at the same time it was reported stolen. Investigators also discovered the parking lot where he claims the theft occurred does not exist.

The District Attorney filed insurance fraud charges against Martinez after a review of the case.

Martinez was booked into West Valley Detention Center and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

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Fraud charges to Attorney

A Worcester-based attorney has been indicted for fraudulently collecting some $120,000 in workers compensation survivor benefits that he received after the death of his first wife.

Herman Bayless of Brookfield has been charged with Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud and Larceny over $250. Bayless maintains his own law practice that includes, among other areas, workers’ compensation law.

Bayless began collecting workers’ compensation benefits after his first wife died in 2001. She had collected compensation benefits herself after being injured on the job as a corrections officer. Following her death Bayless was entitled to collect her benefits as her surviving spouse until he remarried.

Investigators discovered in early 2007 that Bayless had remarried in July 2004, but had allegedly failed to notify the DOC of his change in status, in order to continue collecting the survivor benefits. Authorities allege that Bayless collected nearly $120,000 in benefits during that period, which he was no longer entitled to receive.

A Suffolk County Grand Jury returned indictments against Bayless yesterday. He is scheduled for arraignment on June 8, 2009, in Suffolk Superior Court.

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