Lawrence, Mass. Man Pleads Guilty to Auto Insurance Fraud

A Lawrence, Mass. man pleaded guilty this week to an indictment charging that he participated in an auto insurance fraud scheme to bilk insurance companies out of thousands of dollars in false claims, according to state Attorney General Tom Reilly.

Julian Perez, 59, of Lawrence, pleaded guilty before presiding Judge Richard Welch in Lawrence Superior Court, to one count of attempted motor vehicle insurance fraud, according to officials. He was sentenced to two years probation and, as conditions of probation, will be required to perform 150 hours of community service and pay $2,500 in restitution to Liberty Mutual and One Beacon Insurance Group, Reilly’s office reported.

According to officials, in November of 2002, Perez claimed that he was a passenger in a motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles. Following the reported accident, Perez filed a claim for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, claiming that he sustained neck and back injuries as a result of the alleged accident. He also claimed to have received treatment for injuries at a Lawrence chiropractic office. He then provided a statement to an insurance investigator in which he claimed that the accident had occurred and that he had received injuries and treatment as a result.

Insurance company investigators determined that the alleged accident had in fact never occurred, at which time, Perez’s claim for PIP benefits was denied. No payments were made on the claim submitted by Perez, or any of the other defendants involved in the ploy, which included his wife, Josefina.

On October 13, Josefina Perez, who officials say pleaded guilty to one count of attempted motor vehicle insurance fraud, was sentenced to two years probation. As a condition of probation, she will be required to complete 150 hours of community service and pay $2,500 in restitution to Liberty Mutual and One Beacon insurance companies.

Source: Massachusetts Attorney Genenral