Asbury Park Man Charged With Insurance Fraud & Witness Tampering Following Alleged Crash of All-Terrain Vehicle

TRENTON – Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced that a Monmouth County man has been indicted for allegedly submitting fraudulent insurance claims in order to obtain more than $8,300 in medical benefits following a motor vehicle accident and subsequently tampering with witnesses in furtherance of his claim.

Perry Nazon, 54, of Asbury Park, owner of P & N Mechanical, Inc., was charged yesterday (January 9) with second-degree insurance fraud, third-degree theft by deception, and two counts of third-degree witness tampering.

Perry Nazon, 54, of Asbury Park, owner of P & N Mechanical, Inc., was charged yesterday (January 9) with second-degree insurance fraud, third-degree theft by deception, and two counts of third-degree witness tampering.

The state grand jury indictment alleges that between May 2, 2010 and May 23, 2012, Nazon submitted fraudulent claims to National Continental Insurance Company, which is a subsidiary corporation of Progressive Corporation, falsely claiming that he was injured in a motor vehicle accident while driving his 1994 GMC Yukon truck. The Yukon truck was covered by an automobile insurance policy with personal injury protection for medical expenses up to $250,000. An investigation by the Lakewood Police Department and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor determined that, at the time of the accident, Nazon was allegedly driving an all-terrain vehicle, which was not covered by the insurance policy. Nazon allegedly represented to medical providers, police, and insurance company representatives that he sustained injuries in an accident involving a 1994 GMC Yukon truck in order to obtain coverage under a commercial insurance policy held by his company, P & N Mechanical. As a result, Nazon allegedly received $8,384 in medical benefits to which he was not entitled. It is further alleged that Nazon attempted to hide his fraudulent conduct by tampering with a witness on two separate occasions during the course of the investigation.

The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $150,000 while third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $15,000.

Special Deputy Attorney General Colin James Keiffer, Deputy Attorney General Thomas Tresansky and Detective Terrence Buie were assigned to the case. Detectives Kristi Procaccino and Megan Flanagan also assisted in the investigation. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi thanked National Continental for referring the matter to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor and for working with the OIFP throughout the course of this investigation. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Chillemi also thanked Officer Sean Doyle of the Lakewood Police Department for his help in the initial investigation.