New York 9/11 Fraud Cases Total Hits 68
By Mark E. Ruquet
NU Online News Service, Feb. 27, 1:46 p.m. EST?The number of fraud cases from the World Trade Center catastrophe, investigated by New York's insurance department, reached 68 this week with the arrest of a Glen Aubry, N.Y., man, officials said.
In the latest case, a father who tried to collect on a $20,000 life insurance policy on his young daughter was arrested. The father was accused of claiming his daughter had died in the tragedy when in fact she was alive and living out of state.
The arrest in Broome County, N.Y., was announced by the New York State Insurance Department. Picked up by authorities was 46-year-old Merle D. Hover of Glen Aubry.
Terri Marchon, a spokeswoman for the department, said the 68 fraud cases have run the gamut of homeowners, auto, property and life insurance. They have involved claims for cars that were not at the site, clean-up of property that was not damaged in the attack, and 17 life insurance claims, she said.
In this case, Mr. Hover allegedly filed a life insurance claim with Combined Life Insurance Co. on Nov. 9, 2001, stating that his daughter, who is a minor, was killed in the Sept. 11 attack.
The investigation that led to the arrest followed a tip to the state's insurance fraud hotline, which resulted in the subsequent arrest of Mr. Hover, Ms. Marchon said.
The daughter, who lives out of state, is not implicated in the act, Ms. Marchon noted. Mr. Hover did not collect on the policy, she said.
The investigation involved the insurance department's Frauds Bureau, Broome County Sheriff's Office and the Broome County District Attorney's office.
Mr. Hover's home is located almost 200 miles Northwest of New York City.
Mr. Hover surrendered to police and was arraigned in the Town of Conklin Local Criminal Court. He was released on his own recognizance. If convicted, he faces up to 11 years in prison, the insurance department said.
"Falsely claiming the death of a family member to benefit from the tragedy of Sept. 11 is unconscionable," said Gregory V. Serio, New York State Insurance Superintendent. "The department has remained vigilant in uncovering, investigating and arresting unscrupulous individuals, like Mr. Hover, who have sought personal gain from this national tragedy. Mr. Hover's crime is particularly ghastly and the department vows to continue to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the World Trade Center tragedy."
A call to Broome County District Attorney Gerald Mollen for details on the case was not returned.
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