Mass. Man Finds Auto Fraud Doesn’t Pay

A Rockland, Massachusetts man had been charged with allegedly paying to have his vehicle taken and damaged and reporting it stolen to collect the insurance money, Attorney General Tom Reilly announced.

Michael Moreira, 22, of Brockton, was indicted on four counts each of motor vehicle insurance fraud, attempted larceny over $250, providing a false statement alleging the theft of a motor vehicle and falsely reporting a crime. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges May 10 in Plymouth Superior Court.

In June 2004, Moreira, who was living in Rockland at the time, reported to Rockland Police and Hanover Insurance Company that his 1999 Ford Explorer had been stolen during the night. Police recovered the truck later that day with extensive exterior damage and was deemed a total loss, valued at more than $9,000.

The Attorney General’s investigation found that Moreira allegedly paid an individual $500 to take the vehicle, damage it and make it appear as if it were stolen for the purpose of collecting insurance proceeds.