FRAUD NEWS ZONE......

* New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram announced that a Newark man was sentenced for falsely claiming he was injured in a bus accident, when, in fact, he was not involved in the accident.


According to prosecutors, Princeton Smith, 32, of Newark, was ordered to serve two years probation and 100 hours of community service. The defendant previously served 35 days in Essex County Jail. The sentence was based on Smith’s guilty plea to attempted theft by deception, a charge contained in a June 10, 2008 Essex County grand jury indictment.

In pleading guilty on March 18, Smith admitted that he fraudulently claimed that on Jan. 11, 2005, he was a passenger on a bus and was injured when the bus collided with a passenger car. Smith was not a passenger on the bus at the time of the accident. Smith further admitted that between Jan. 11 and July 20, 2005, he filed a false claim with U.S Fidelity and Guaranty Co. in an attempt to obtain money for a bus accident he in which he was not involved.

• California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that three Southern California fraud suspects were arraigned in San Diego County this week.

San Diego residents Adam Duvanich, 25; his wife, Lindsey Duvanich, 24; and John Fuller, Jr., 37, were charged on May 5 with felony insurance fraud and conspiracy. Joseph Malcuit, 26, of Lakeside, was also charged with felony fraud and conspiracy. Adam and Lindsay Duvanich and Malcuit were arraigned Tuesday.

In the summer of 2008, Lindsey and Adam Duvanich allegedly decided to get rid of their 2004 Honda Accord in order to collect on the potential insurance payout. In July 2008, John Fuller allegedly agreed to help Lindsey Duvanich abandon the Accord. Fuller introduced Lindsey to Malcuit, who would allegedly help her abandon the vehicle. Lindsey Duvanich gave her car key to Malcuit, who allegedly hid the vehicle. On July 8, 2008, Lindsey reported her 2004 Honda Accord stolen to San Diego Police. She also filed a vehicle theft claim with her insurance company, providing a recorded statement regarding the circumstances surrounding the theft. Lindsey and Adam Duvanich signed the Affidavit of Vehicle Theft, attesting to the circumstances surrounding the supposed theft. The affidavit was notarized and returned to the insurer.

In October 2008, CDI was notified of a suspected fraudulent claim referral in regards to this case. During the course of the investigation, Adam Duvanich admitted that he and his wife discussed getting rid of the vehicle in order to collect a payout from their insurance company. Fuller and Malcuit admitted to having involvement in the scheme. Lindsey Duvanich confessed to filing a false claim with her insurance company.