NICB Crime Fight Awards To Spitzer, Kornblau

NU Online News Service, Dec. 19, 11:34 a.m.EST?The National Insurance Crime Bureau said it is givinga fraud fighting award to New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzerand Barbara Kornblau, deputy bureau chief of the Nassau CountyDistrict Attorney's Office.[@@]

NICB said the two will be honored as the 2003 Man and Woman ofthe Year for the New York City Metropolitan Region at an awardceremony due to take place at 1:30 p.m. today at John Anthony's onthe Water, 494 Fire Island Avenue, in Babylon, NY.

"These awards acknowledge the Attorney General and Deputy BureauChief Kornblau as leaders in the fight against fraud," said GeneGlenn, NICB chief operating officer.

NICB said Mr. Spitzer is a "tireless advocate for the citizensof the state of New York." The group noted that in the past year,Mr. Spitzer has established a separate unit within the attorneygeneral's office charged with the exclusive mission of combatinginsurance fraud.

In addition, the attorney general's office has assigned afull-time investigator to NICB's New York Medical Fraud Task Forcewhich identifies and investigates individuals and organized crimerings participating in fraud against the state's personal injuryprotection fraud.

Recently, the Medical Fraud Task Force uncovered evidence thatled to the indictment of more than 550 members (individuals andentities) of an organized insurance fraud scam allegedlyresponsible for at least 1,000 staged accidents in New YorkCity.

Ms. Kornblau is the current deputy bureau chief of the CriminalFrauds Bureau of the Nassau County District Attorney's Office.

NICB said in the past two years, Ms. Kornblau has been involvedin the prosecution of more than 35 insurance fraud cases. Herrecent indictments include the ringleader of a major stagedaccident ring which should lead to prosecutions of numerousco-conspirators, according to NICB

The NICB Man and Woman of the Year awards are presented annuallyto individuals who make significant contributions to the fightagainst insurance fraud in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

Mr. Glenn said fraud costs each American household an average of$200 to $300 a year in additional insurance premiums--money "whichcould be used toward household expenses, savings or an educationalfund."

The National Insurance Crime Bureau is a national not-for-profitorganization dedicated exclusively to fighting insurance fraud andtheft for the benefit of its customers and the public throughinformation analysis, forecasting, criminal investigation support,training and public awareness. The NICB is supported byapproximately 1,000 property/casualty insurance companies. Forfurther information on the fight against fraud, visitwww.nicb.org.