newjerseynewsroom.com

Sought more than $10,000 in false claim

A Union City woman and her Jersey City brother were indicted Wednesday for their alleged roles in a scheme to submit false auto insurance claims, the state attorney general‘s office announced.

Libia Mendoza, 37, and Leonel Mendoza, 39, of Jersey City, are charged with second-degree conspiracy, second-degree insurance fraud, third-degree tampering with public records, and third-degree attempted theft by deception, state Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi said.

The state grand jury indictment alleges that between May 12 and Sept. 25, Leonel Mendoza fraudulently reported an alleged hit and run accident, via telephone, to MetLife Auto and Home Insurance Co. Mendoza allegedly reported the accident on behalf of his sister, Libia Mendoza, the insured, and alleged claimed that a phantom vehicle caused damage to her 2005, BMW X5.

It is also alleged that Leonel Mendoza, on behalf of Libia mendoza, completed and submitted a false state Motor Vehicle Accident Report to the Jersey City police alleging the hit and run accident.

An investigation determined that Libia Mendoza allegedly submitted the false Motor Vehicle Accident Report to MetLife in furtherance of her insurance claim for approximately $10,095 in benefits. MetLife denied the claim and referred the matter to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.

The indictment also alleges that the Mendozas provided a MetLife representative with a false voluntary recorded statement detailing the alleged hit and run accident that purportedly caused damage to Libia’s 2005 BMW X5.

Deputy Attorney General Carlos A. Lopez and Det. Scott Stevens were assigned to the investigation.

Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000, while third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a criminal fine of $15,000.

—TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM