Fraud charge filed against Wilkes-Barre woman

March 25--WILKES-BARRE -- A city woman was arraigned Monday on charges she provided false information when she obtained insurance for a vehicle involved in a crash in New York City.

Detectives with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Task Force allege Malalie Evelyn Klaiber, 34, of South Hancock Street, misled Donegal Insurance about her commute to work when she obtained insurance for a 2006 Nissan Altima.

When the Nissan was involved in a crash in New York City, Klaiber provided false information about the date of the crash, according to the criminal complaint.

Klaiber was arraigned by District Judge Martin Kane in Wilkes-Barre on three counts of insurance fraud. She was released on $10,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Klaiber obtained insurance for the Nissan on Feb. 13, 2013, claiming the car was for pleasure. A 1999 BMW on her policy was for work with a commute of less than three miles.

Klaiber filed a claim for damages to the Nissan on March 28, 2013, telling her insurance carrier that the vehicle was damaged in a hit-and-run crash in New York City on March 8, 2013, a day after she allegedly increased coverage for it.

Detectives learned Klaiber's boyfriend drove the vehicle that struck a parked tow truck in Jamaica, N.Y., on March 5, 2013, the complaint says.

New York City impounded the vehicle, which was released to Klaiber on March 28, 2013, the same day she filed a claim for damages.

Donegal Insurance issued a $3,451 check to Klaiber on April 2, 2013, but payment was stopped when the claim was referred for an investigation by the insurance company, according to the complaint.

The complaint says Donegal Insurance would not have provided coverage for the Nissan because the vehicle was being driven to New York City for employment. A vehicle that travels less than three miles per day to work would have a lower premium than a vehicle that travels 121 miles per day one way, the complaint says.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled on April 17.

___

(c)2014 The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

Visit The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) at www.timesleader.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services