Wednesday, January 11, 2006
By TRISH GRABER
Staff Writer
SALEM –The Salem County Prosecutor’s Office arrested and charged 11 people for insurance fraud and recovered $150,000 during a county-wide investigation, authorities announced Monday.
Two detectives from the prosecutor’s office worked in conjunction with municipal police departments across the county during the initiative, County Prosecutor John T. Lenahan said.
Det. James Gillespie and Det. Matthew Clark, of the prosecutor’s office, worked with all local police departments while investigating charges ranging from possession of a fake vehicle insurance card to false health care claims.
The detectives positions are funded through a state insurance fraud grant to investigate insurance fraud in Salem County.
The prosecutor’s office arrested and charged the following people in the county-wide insurance fraud initiative:
Carmela Groszeweski, 35, of Pennsville was charged with theft by deception and prohibited transaction with a food stamp card.
Amanda Lowell, 22, of Pennsville was charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
Sandra Beckett, 20, of Pennsville was charged with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
Ernest Beckett, 45, of Pennsville was charged with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
Frank A. Verna, 28, of Elmer was charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
Frank R. Verna, 62, of Woodstown was charged with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.
Stephen T. Walter, 23, of Atco was charged with production of a false motor vehicle insurance ID card.
Levion Hazelton, 52, of Salem was charged with production of a false motor vehicle insurance ID card.
Letitia Lewis, 23, of Salem was charged with production of a false motor vehicle insurance ID card and tampering with public records.
Deborah Karpinski, 41, of Pennsville was charged with insurance fraud.
Ruth Zane, 51, of Carneys Point was charged with health care claims fraud.
All suspects were released on a summons pending a court appearance.
Anyone with information on any possible insurance fraud should contact Det. James Gillespie at 935-7510 ext. 8521 or Det. Matthew Clarke at 935-7510 ext. 8529.