PA Collision Center Owner Surrenders After Submitting $426K In False Insurance Claims
A Bucks County collision center owner who submitted nearly 300 false insurance claims, pocketing more than $426,000 in payouts has surrendered to authorities, they said.
John Paul Reis, 56, of Newtown Township, turned himself in on Thursday, Aug. 25, on charges of insurance fraud, deceptive business practices, forgery, and theft by deception, all third-degree felonies, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.
The charges come after a four-year investigation by county detectives that began in Sept. 2018, after they received a referral from officials with …
Unregistered Home Contractor Charged With $150K In 'Improvement' Thefts On Jersey Shore
A 35-year-old Ocean County man was charged with theft by deception for home contracting, authorities said.
On Thursday, June 23, Toms River Police Detective Robert O’Neill arrested and charged Robert Cohan, of Lakehurst, with theft as well as multiple counts of unregistered home improvement contracting, police said.
Beginning in February, and continuing through May, Cohan allegedly targeted the residents of the Gardens of Pleasant Plains in a home improvement contracting scheme. He was soliciting the residents to do driveway, sidewalk, as well as roof, door and othe…
PA Contractor Ripped Off $86K From Clients, AG Says
A contractor in Pennsylvania has been charged after he accepted deposits to build elevators in six residents' homes but never did any of the work, authorities said.
Michael Bloom, of Williamsport, agreed to the projects, which totaled $86,110, AG Josh Shapiro said. He provided little or no services in return and refused to give his customers refunds.
Five of the homeowners left in the lurch by Bloom were over 60 years old, the AG said.
“The law is clear on this,” AG Shapiro said. “Contractors can’t enter into a contract, accept money from a homeowner, and then fail to deliver — and that’s …
Bail Scam Artist Needs Bail After He Tried To Scam PA Grandma Out of $15K: Police
An 82-year-old grandma nearly lost $15,000 to a bail scam artist on Monday, June 13, police say.
Engerbert Perez Jimenez, 26, of Reading, called the Lancaster County woman and pretended to be her son’s lawyer claiming her grandson was in a serious car crash and was in the ICU and needed $8,000, according to the release by the Northern Lancaster County Regional police department.
The woman quickly went to the bank and withdrew cash and met the man in Warwick Township and surrendered the cash, but then he called her back and demanded another $7,000 in cash claiming he need bail money for her…
NJ Biz Owner Didn't Give Hurt Landscaper Worker's Comp, Woman Stole $19K In Unemployment: AG
Two New Jersey residents are facing federal charges for failing to provide workers compensation to an injured employee and stealing more than $19,000 in unemployment funds, authorities said.
Richard Hockenberry, 71, of Hawthorne, and Brianna Larkins, 34, of Secaucus, were both charged by way of indictment for the employment benefit-related crimes, Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced Monday, May 9.
One of Hockneberry's employees at his landscaping company became injured at work on Feb. 26, 2018, Platkin said. On May 4, 2018, the victim filed a Workers’ Compensation…
NY Woman Nearly Scammed 80-Year-Old Hamilton Man Out Of $15K, Police Say
A New York woman was charged after police say she tried — and almost succeeded — in scamming an 80-year-old Hamilton man out of $15,000.
Mildreth Santamaria-Tirado, 40, of Corona, is accused of trying to fraudulently collect $15,000 from a Hamilton man on Friday, April 15, the Hamilton Police Division said.
The victim received a call from a man claiming to be from the FBI stating that his daughter had been arrested for possessing 100 pounds of marijuana earlier that day, police said.
The man allegedly told the victim that he would have to pay 10 percent of a $200,000 bail to secure his dau…
