Atlantic County, N.J. Man Pleads Guilty on Fraud Charges

New Jersey’s Acting Attorney General Peter Harvey announced that an Atlantic County man pleaded guilty to attempted theft for reportedly falsely claiming his car was damaged on Sept. 11, 2001.

According to Harvey, Harold Davis pleaded guilty before Judge Robert Neustadter in Superior Court, Atlantic County, to an Accusation which charged him with one count of attempted theft by deception. Crimes of the third degree carry sentences of up to five years in State prison, and a criminal fine of up to $15,000. Davis was previously fined $2,500 pursuant to the civil Insurance Fraud Prevention Act. Davis is scheduled to appear before Judge Neustadter on April 21 to be sentenced.

At the guilty plea hearing, Davis reportedly admitted that on Sept. 27, 2001, he submitted a false automobile insurance claim with Rutgers Casualty, claiming that he drove his car into New York City on Sept. 11, 2001 and that it sustained damage from falling debris.

The investigation reportedly revealed that Davis was at his place of employment in Atlantic City on Sept. 11, 2001 and therefore his car could not have sustained damage in New York City. Davis reportedly admitted that the damage to his vehicle may have been caused by highway debris.