A New Jersey body shop owner has pleaded guilty to
defrauding more than a dozen insurers of nearly $52,000 by submitting fake
invoices for repair parts.
Prosecutors say Divyakant Patel, owner of J&R Body
Masters in Perth Amboy, admitted to including fraudulent invoices in bills his
body shop sent to insurers from November 2006 through May 2010.
The insurance companies defrauded by Patel were
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, High Point Insurance, Liberty Mutual, 21st Century
Insurance, New Jersey Manufacturers, GEICO, Allstate, SIA, Mercury,
Progressive, Palisades, Ameriprise/IDS Property and Casualty, Met Life and
Hanover Insurance.
Patel was sentenced to five years probation and must serve 100 hours of community service.
He also must pay $51,946 in restitution.
