New Jersey Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that a Middlesex County, N.J., body shop owner pleaded guilty to defrauding numerous insurance companies out of nearly $52,000.
Divyakant Patel, 46, of Iselin, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Frederick P. DeVesa in Middlesex County to charges of third-degree theft by deception. Patel will be sentenced Feb. 28. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend Patel be sentenced to a term of probation. Patel will be ordered to pay full restitution.
In pleading guilty, Patel, the owner of J&R Body Masters, located in Perth Amboy, admitted that between Nov.16, 2006 and May 20, 2010, he fraudulently obtained a total of $51,946 from various insurance companies by submitting repair bills with phony invoices from parts vendors.
The companies from which Patel stole the monies were: Enterprise Rent-A-Car, High Point Insurance, Liberty Mutual Insurance, 21st Century Insurance, New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance, GEICO, Allstate Insurance, SIA Insurance, Mercury Insurance, Progressive Insurance, Palisades Insurance, Ameriprise/IDS Property and Casualty, Met Life and Hanover Insurance.
More information:
13 Charged in Philadelphia Body Shop’s Insurance Fraud/Theft Scheme
Five Florida Allstate/State Farm Adjusters Arrested in $5 Million Fraud Scheme
California DA Charges 53 Body Shop Employees with Insurance Fraud in Sting Operation
