An Albany, New York woman who reportedly removed personal belongings from her home the day before fire damaged the dwelling pleaded guilty on July 21 to insurance fraud and falsifying business records for attempting to obtain a $38,000 payment under her renter’s insurance policy. Kim M. Laporte, 39, entered the plea before Judge George Bartlett III in Schoharie County Court. She could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
Laporte was arrested by Investigator Phil D’Angelo, of the New York State Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau, and Rich Bialkowski, of the Cobleskill Police Department, following an investigation into an April 2007 fire at the home where she previously resided in the Town of Cobleskill.
The Schoharie County Arson Task Force reportedly found that Laporte had moved many of her personal belongings out of the two-story frame structure the day before the fire. The Task Force is still investigating the cause of the fire at 108 Mallard Lane. In addition, insurance investigators reportedly found that Laporte had falsified an earlier claim for damages resulting from the collapse of a garage on the property.
Laporte was released on $5,000 bail pending a Sept. 10 court appearance.
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1 comment:
As an insurance agent I've personally seen a case of fraud - and they got away with it. But I've heard other stories similar to this one. Wonder no more why insurance companies put limits on some things, like jewelry.
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