FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
TWITTER: @HCPOProsecutor
WEB: hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org
DATE: Friday, September 14, 2018
JERSEY CITY MAN CHARGED IN TWO AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE FRAUD CASES
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
On July 31, 2018, following a lengthy investigation, John D. Johnson, age 25, of Jersey City surrendered to members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit at the Hudson County Administration Building on Newark Avenue in Jersey City while accompanied by his attorney.
Johnson was arrested without incident on a Summons Complaint charging him with one count of Insurance Fraud in violation of N.J.S. 2C:21-4.6, a second-degree crime. Johnson was released on his own recognizance. He made his first appearance on these charges in Central Judicial Processing Court on August 7, 2018.
The Insurance Fraud Unit was notified of the case by a Special Investigator affiliated with the involved insurance company. The subsequent investigation revealed that on October 29, 2017, the insurance company received a claim that a Pontiac G8 was stolen from the area of Fulton and Rose avenues in Jersey City sometime between October 28 and October 29.
On October 30, 2017, members of the Jersey City Police Department were dispatched to Fulton and Rose avenues on a report of a recovered stolen vehicle that was blocking part of the sidewalk. The recovered vehicle was a Pontiac G8 and it was found with a broken rear window and the engine, transmission and several seats were missing.
The charge against Johnson alleges that he committed five acts of Insurance Fraud by fabricating the stolen vehicle claim to the insurance company and that he removed the engine and the transmission from his vehicle for the benefit of at least $1000.
Also, during their investigation, detectives discovered that shortly after the insurance company denied the stolen vehicle claim for the Pontiac G8, Johnson purchased a Cadillac CTS. On May 22, 2018, while driving the Cadillac CTS, Johnson collided with several parked vehicles. It is alleged that he purchased a new automobile insurance policy for the Cadillac CTS after the collision and then falsely filed an accident claim on May 23, 2018, in what’s known as a “Crash and Buy Scheme.”
On August 30, 2018, Johnson surrendered a second time to members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit at the Hudson County Administration Building on Newark Avenue in Jersey City while accompanied by his attorney.
Johnson was arrested without incident on a Summons Complaint charging him with one count of Insurance Fraud in violation of N.J.S. 2C:21-4.6, a second-degree crime. Johnson was released on his own recognizance. He made his first appearance on these charges in Central Judicial Processing Court on September 5, 2018.
Prosecutor Suarez credited members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Insurance Fraud Unit with the investigation and arrest.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).