Dominicans ‘scammed’ US$78,000 in bogus N.J. traffic accidents

New York.- Several Dominicans were arrested in Paterson, New Jersey, charged with bilking at least two insurance companies out of US$78,000 with bogus traffic accidents.

Prosecutors say from March 2009 to August of 2013Passaic County residents Rafael Olivares, Liberato Cohen, Husayn and Jenny Encarnación, Ariel Batista, Jonathan Damián and Harold Gross conspired to simulate injuries in collisions to demand compensation.

Police say Cohen recruited the other defendants, while Husayn Encarnacion is accused of recruiting his wife Jenny for the same scheme.

Court papers say on April 25, 2009, Cohen purposely hit a Dodge Avenger with his Dodge van with Damian, Gross and Jenny as passengers while Batista, the only passenger in the Avenger, agreed to take part in the fraud after the accident.

Cohen, Batista, Gross, Damian and Jenny visited designated medical providers and submitted fraudulent claims against the Mercury Insurance Group and Plymouth Rock Assurance.

The conspirators, prosecutors allege, received US$78,829 in medical reimbursements for alleged bodily injuries.

On April 10 this year a grand jury indicted them on conspiracy, and insurance fraud, among other felonies.