3 Convicted in Massachusetts Auto Insurance Fraud Scheme

An Andover lawyer, a North Andover chiropractor and one of his employees have been convicted of participating in a scheme to defraud auto insurers out of $130,000.

A jury on Monday convicted attorney James Hyde and Dr. Michael Kaplan of dealing with clients referred to them by so-called “runners” who they knew set up “paper” accidents that never happened.

The jury also convicted one of Kaplan’s van drivers, Omar Castillo, who was accused of helping to set up one of three crashes in late 2002 which were the basis of the 2008 indictments.

Hyde and Kaplan were each sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail. Castillo also received a 2 1/2-year sentence, with nine months to serve.

The lawyers for all three said evidence was weak and planned to appeal.