NJ Public Adjuster Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Insurance Companies

TRENTON, N.J., Aug. 13 -- The New Jersey Attorney General issued the following news release:

Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced that a Bergen County public adjuster has pleaded guilty for defrauding clients and insurance companies, including a company that insured a church in Essex County, of more than $42,000 by billing for services that were never completed.

Sheena Clarke, 59, of Englewood, pleaded guilty on Friday (Aug. 10) to third-degree insurance fraud before Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin in Essex County. The charge was contained in an Essex County grand jury indictment returned on Feb. 10.

Judge Ravin scheduled sentencing for Sept. 28. Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend thatClarke be sentenced to probation conditioned on paying $42,519 in restitution. She will also be ordered to surrender her Public Adjuster's license. Clarke has agreed to a civil penalty of $5,125 to the Department of Banking and Insurance.

Clarke admitted that between July 31, 2005 and August 13, 2010, she submitted property damage claims to four insurance companies claiming that damage was sustained and repairs were completed at properties located in Paterson, Newark, Irvington, and East Orange when, in fact, the repairs were not completed. The insurance companies to which the claims were submitted were the Philadelphia Contributorship Insurance Company, the Germantown Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Company.

As a result of the fraud, Clarke caused approximately $42,519 in claim monies to be obtained from the Philadelphia Contributorship Insurance Company, the Germantown Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Company.

Deputy Attorney General Dennis Kwasnik and Detective Nicole Eiker were assigned to the investigation. Deputy Attorney General Kwasnik represented the state at the guilty plea. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi thanked Philadelphia Contributorship Insurance Company, the Germantown Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Company for their assistance in the investigation. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Chillemi also thanked Joy Champion of the National Insurance Crime Bureau for her assistance in the investigation.

Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Chillemi noted that some important cases have started with anonymous tips. People who are concerned about insurance cheating and have information about a fraud can report it anonymously by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD, or visiting the Web site at www.NJInsurancefraud.org. State regulations permit a reward to be paid to an eligible person who provides information that leads to an arrest, prosecution and conviction for insurance fraud.

TNS C-Santpan-Santpan 120814-3987302 71Santosh