By Kathianne Boniello
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced the smashing of a $500,000 car insurance fraud scheme last week in which nine of the 12 people arrested were from Queens.
According to authorities, those arrested in the scheme allegedly sold their cars and then falsely reported them stolen to both police and their respective insurance companies, collecting thousands in insurance payouts. Some settlements reached up to $33,599, the DA’s office said, for cars reported stolen in Queens, Brooklyn and Nassau counties.
“Like so many frauds, this one has been rooted up and exposed, and its perpetrators will now face the consequences,” said New York Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly.
Those arrested include a doctor, a physician’s assistant and a licensed stockbroker. The physician’s assistant and stock broker were both Queens residents.
The 12 suspects face various charges of grand larceny, insurance fraud and conspiracy, Brown’s office said, and if convicted, they could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
The nine accused from Queens live in Whitestone, Flushing, Bayside, Springfield Gardens, Laurelton, Jamaica and Corona. People in Great Neck, Long Island and Brooklyn also were arrested, the DA’s office said.
The scheme was broken up during a joint investigation by Brown, the NYPD and the state Insurance Department.
The investigation, called Operation Fraud Fools, began in July 2000, when the NYPD’s Auto Crime Division began buying vehicles from a middleman who was selling cars disposed of by their owners. The middleman was identified by the Queens district attorney’s office only as “an unapprehended third party.”
After cops bought the cars, the respective owners came in claiming the vehicles were stolen, Brown said.
“Hopefully, people are beginning to get the message that auto insurance fraud is a serious matter. Insurance fraud means higher insurance rates for all of us,” he said.
The doctor accused of taking part in the insurance fraud scheme is Dr. Charles Libby, 50, of Great Neck. According to the DA’s office, Libby allegedly told police and his insurance company that his 1999 Lexus was stolen in Queens in July 2000. Authorities said Libby’s alleged fraud totaled $33,599.
Baysider Maria Quezada, 32, is a physician’s assistant at St. Mary’s Hospital in Brooklyn, according to the DA’s office. Quezada was accused of stealing $15,772 after claiming her 1999 Honda Accord was stolen near 93rd Street and 37th Avenue in April 2001, the DA’s office said. Police said she is accused of selling her car two days before reporting it stolen.
Stockbroker Erastus Clifton, 35, of Laurelton, told police in March 2001 his car was stolen in Great Neck, the DA’s office said. Clifton allegedly collected $21,294 in insurance money for a 1999 Ford Expedition, the DA’s office said.
Other Queens residents arrested were Vito Alagna, 51, of 150-26 7th Ave., Whitestone; Jawara Aiken, 25, of Springfield Gardens; Alan Rodriquez, 30, of 52-09 102nd St., Corona; and Darrell McClary, 26, of 112-40 Dillon St., Jamaica.
Three Flushing residents also were arrested: Meropi Xarras, 31, of 47-54 198th St.; Samir Jaber, 34, and Waafh Said, 29, both of 43-14 192nd St.
Also arrested were Libby, 50, of 3 Chester Dr., Great Neck, Cipher Rahiem, 45, of 46 Summer Ave., Great Neck, and Edwin Lopez, 31, of 90-16 4th Ave., Brooklyn.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
