Malden Man and Woman Charged with Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud

DEDHAM, Mass., July 16 -- The Massachusetts Attorney General issued the following news release:

A Malden woman was arraigned on charges she schemed to collect over $4,000 from a fraudulent auto insurance claim, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.

Madonne Pierre-Paul, 47, was charged with Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud and Attempted Larceny. Co-defendant Eddy Anthony Fleury, 70, also of Malden was arraigned on June 17, 2010, on the charge of Motor Vehicle Insurance Fraud.

According to authorities, in March 2005, Fleury was stopped at an intersection in Milton when the vehicle he was driving was rear ended by another driver. The vehicle that Fleury was driving was owned, registered and insured by Pierre-Paul. Authorities allege that at the time of the accident Fleury was the sole occupant of the vehicle and that he did not require medical attention from responding authorities.

Authorities allege that Pierre-Paul contacted her insurance company, AMICA, the next day and filed a collision and personal injury protection claim reporting that she was the front seat passenger at the time of the accident. According to authorities, Fleury also completed and signed a state accident report, which was submitted to AMICA, stating that he was the operator of the vehicle and claiming that Pierre-Paul was the front seat passenger when the accident occurred.

According to authorities in April 2005, Pierre-Paul submitted a written personal injury protection application for benefits to AMICA. Further investigation by AMICA into Pierre-Paul's employment records revealed that she was allegedly working in Waltham at the time of the accident. As a result of the investigation, AMICA denied the claim.

By claiming that she was a passenger in the vehicle, Pierre-Paul attempted to collect $4,223.88 from AMICA.

AG Coakley's Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division works to protect consumers and the integrity of the insurance system by investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against all types of insurers, including the Commonwealth's unemployment insurance and workers' compensation system. The prosecution of insurance fraud helps prevent the increase in premiums and taxes that are the result of fraudulent insurance claims. In Fiscal Year 2009, the Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division obtained over $2.6 million in restitution orders in 103 matters.

Pierre-Paul was arraigned today in Dedham District Court at which time she entered a plea of not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. Pierre-Paul is due back in court on August 24, 2010, for a pre-trial conference. Judge Michael Pomarole presided over the arraignment. On June 17, 2010, Fleury was arraigned in Dedham District Court at which time he entered a plea of not guilty and was released on personal recognizance. Fleury is due back in court on July 29, 2010, for a pre-trial conference.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Adams of AG Coakley's Insurance and Unemployment Fraud Division, with assistance from the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts.

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