Former N.J. Insurance Company Employee Charged with Theft of Premium Monies

New Jersey Criminal Justice Director Vaughn McKoy announced that the Division of Criminal Justice – Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor has obtained an indictment charging a former Essex County insurance company employee with allegedly stealing insurance premium monies from insurance purchasers.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Lisa Brown, 29, of Orange, Essex County, was charged with two counts of theft by deception (3rd degree). If convicted, Brown faces up to 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $30,000. Brown also faces the possibility of the imposition of civil insurance fraud fines.

The Union County Grand Jury indictment alleges that between Nov. 12, 2001 and Feb. 20, 2002, Brown, in her capacity as a claims service representative for Fleet Insurance Services, stole insurance premium money from several persons who wished to purchase automobile insurance.

An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice – Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor determined that Brown accepted more than $3,000 in insurance premium money perspective customers with the promise that she could obtain auto insurance at a low rate. It is charged that, after receiving the money, Brown issued fraudulent Chubb Insurance Company documents, including a policy binder, as well as a fraudulent First Trenton Indemnity Company policy binder.

The investigation further revealed that, as a result of the scam, the victims were left without valid automobile insurance. Brown was neither licensed nor authorized to sell insurance or accept premiums as a licensed insurance agent.