FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
TWITTER: @HCPOProsecutor
WEB: hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org
DATE: Monday, May 7, 2018
TWO ARRESTED IN JERSEY CITY INSURANCE FRAUD CASE
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
On November 13, 2016, shortly after 1:20 a.m., a Jersey City Police Officer observed a fully-engulfed vehicle fire in the area of Monmouth and 12th streets in Jersey City. First responders were able to quickly extinguish the vehicle fire and a subsequent investigation was conducted by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit and the Jersey City Fire Department’s Arson Unit.
During the investigation, the vehicle was identified as a 2013 Audi Sedan owned by Harvey Nuila, age 43, of East Rutherford. The investigation revealed that Nuila paid Charlie Serrano, age 28, of Linden, to set his vehicle on fire so that he could collect insurance proceeds. Nuila then filed false claims with his insurance company for the benefit of those proceeds.
On February 1, 2018, following a lengthy investigation, Nuila 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. He was arrested without incident and was charged with committing five or more acts of Insurance Fraud in violation of N.J.S. 2C:21-4.6, a second-degree crime. Nuila made his first appearance on these charges in Central Judicial Processing Court on February 6, 2018.
On April 24, 2018, Serrano surrendered to members of the Insurance Fraud Unit at the Hudson County Administration Building while accompanied by his attorney. He was arrested without incident and charged with Arson for Hire in violation of N.J.S. 2C:17-1, a first-degree crime; and Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud in violation of N.J.S. 2C:5-2 and N.J.S. 2C:21-4.6, a third-degree crime. Serrano was scheduled to make his first appearance on these charges in Central Judicial Processing Court on May 4, 2018.
Prosecutor Suarez credited members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Insurance Fraud Unit with the investigation and the Jersey City Fire Department’s Arson Unit for their assistance in the investigation.
The above charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. R.P.C.3.6(b)(6).