N.J. Man Charged in Auto Fraud Scheme

August 15, 2003

New Jersey Attorney General Peter Harvey announced that a Hudson County man has been charged in a Hudson County grand jury indictment with filing a false stolen vehicle insurance claim.

According to Vaughn McKoy, Director, Division of Criminal Justice and Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Omar K. Gordon, 28, Jersey City, was charged with one count of attempted theft by deception (3rd degree), tampering with public records or information (3rd degree), and falsifying records (4th degree). If convicted of all three charges, Gordon faces up to 111/2 years in prison and a fine of up to $45,000. Gordon also faces the possibility of the imposition of civil insurance fraud fines pursuant to the Insurance Fraud Prevention Act.

According to Brown, the indictment alleges that on Aug. 24, 2001, Gordon reported that his 1996 Nissan Maxima had been stolen from the Jersey City Pep Boys parking lot. The stolen vehicle report was made to the Jersey City Police Department.

The indictment also charges that on Sept. 24, 2001, Gordon submitted an Affidavit of Vehicle Theft to State Farm Insurance Company, claiming that he last saw his vehicle on Aug. 23, 2001 in the Pep Boys parking lot. An investigation by the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor determined that New York City Police Department recovered Gordon’s vehicle in the Bronx, New York on August 23.