New charge filed against Sugarloaf Twp. woman for insurance fraud

Feb. 26--Prosecutors refiled false swearing charges and added another charge against a Sugarloaf Township woman accused of lying to insurance investigators about jewelry she reported stolen.

Charmaine Maynard, 60, who claimed more than $800,000 in jewelry was stolen from her home in 2011, appeared Tuesday morning before District Judge Daniel O'Donnell for preliminary arraignment on two counts of false swearing and one count of criminal mischief.

O'Donnell set Maynard's bail at $20,000 unsecured and the preliminary hearing on the charges filed by Wyoming County Detective Joseph Sarkis of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Task Force and Sugarloaf police Chief Josh Winters for 9 a.m.March 3.

The task force took the case after an investigator for the Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Co. alleged insurance fraud against Maynard and turned over relevant documentation.

Maynard reported the theft to the insurance company on Aug. 24, 2011, and said the theft happened Aug. 18, 2011, court papers said. She reported subsequent thefts on Aug. 22, 23 and 26, all in 2011.

In an 11-page proof of loss filed with the insurance company, she claimed thefts in the amount of $839,670.60, court papers state.

Maynard was interviewed on at least three different occasions and she provided conflicting information during the interviews and an examination under oath, according to court papers.

Maynard came to the arraignment with several supporters, including Andy Ostrowski, who is running for the congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton. Ostrowski, who is a suspended attorney, made it clear that he was not in court to represent Maynard.

Maynard said she believes police filed the charges against her in retaliation for her watchdog activities in the township.

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"This is malicious prosecution. This is payback. That's how things work in Sugarloaf Township," she said prior to her arraignment. "This is what happens when you stand up."

Maynard also pointed to numerous losses she suffered in recent years, her son's arrest in Florida and health problems, including stress and a mental breakdown, as reasons for conflicting information.

"I did the best I could. I did not claim $800,000," she said.

Maynard produced a list of jewelry she reported stolen, which totalled $119,085. The three-page list didn't include a value for a sapphire ring with diamonds, but noted it may be worth $690,000.

Only one ring on the list, valued at $19,000, was insured, and the list was given to the insurance company, she said. The insurance company has not paid her for the ring she reported stolen, Maynard said.

"I'm the victim," she said.

Prosecutors originally filed the false swearing charges in October, but then withdrew them in December, choosing to refile the complaint with the additional criminal mischief charge.

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