In a plea before Essex County Superior Court Judge Michael Ravin, Jerry Previlon, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree insurance fraud in connection with the crime. Under the negotiated agreement, Previlon is expected to be sentenced to five years in prison.
“Mr. Previlon has learned the hard way that those who cheat their insurers will be held accountable for their crimes,” said Acting Attorney General Hoffman. “The Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor takes these matters very seriously. “These false claims drive up the cost of insurance premiums for other law-abiding drivers.”
“Staging accidents, as this defendant admitted doing, is not only a crime, it poses a serious danger to the well-being of every driver, passenger, and pedestrian in the vicinity of the crash,’ said Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Christopher Iu.
In August Previlon and his former girlfriend, twenty-one-year-old Yasmeen Louis of Union, were charged by a state grand jury with second-degree insurance fraud, second-degree conspiracy, third-degree attempted theft by deception and third-degree tampering with public records or information.
Louis has applied to the court for entry into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program.
According to the indictment, in September 2012, Louis was driving a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix, with Previlon riding in the passenger seat and two other individuals riding in the back when the car was struck by another vehicle in Newark. According to Louis’ sworn statement to investigators, the unidentified driver of the other vehicle, who Louis stated was an acquaintance of Previlon, then exited his vehicle, entered a third vehicle driven by another unidentified driver, and fled the scene of the accident. The indictment alleged that over the next several months Previlon and Louis filed 28 claims each that totaled approximately $25,100 with Liberty Mutual for various medical treatments at South Orange Trauma Center.
Deputy Attorney General Michael Clore represented the state at the plea hearing. Detectives Wendy Berg, Grace Rocca, Matt Armstrong and Erin Lukowiak coordinated the investigation with assistance from analyst Bethany Shussler.
Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Iu 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.
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