Two Pennsylvania Men Charged With Damaging Homes in South Jersey in Order to Collect Insurance Monies for Construction Company
TRENTON, NJ – June 16, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Division of Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that two Pennsylvania men and a construction company have been charged in a state grand jury indictment for their alleged roles in an insurance fraud scheme that targeted homes purportedly damaged by hail.
According to Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi, Marcin Gradziel, 32, of Norristown, Pa., and Dominik Sadowski, 34, of Sellersville, Pa., were charged yesterday (June 14) with second-degree conspiracy, second-degree insurance fraud and third-degree theft by deception. Sadowski was also charged with third-degree insurance fraud. In addition, Precision Network Solutions, Inc. d/b/a Precision Builders, which has offices located in Voorhees and Marlton as well as in Havertown, Pa., was charged with second-degree conspiracy, second-and third-degree insurance fraud and two counts of third-degree theft by deception.
The state grand jury indictment alleges that between Nov. 20, 2010 and March 16, 2011, Gradziel and Sadowski, employees of Precision Builders, caused fraudulent property damage insurance claims to be submitted to Traveler’s Insurance Company, for property damage to at least five homes within Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Mercer Counties purportedly caused by hail storms.
An investigation determined that representatives from Precision Builders were canvassing neighborhoods and were claiming that homes had been damaged in a hail storm and advising homeowners that they could get new siding and roofing at no cost.
Several homeowners allegedly told investigators that they were not aware that they had any hail damage to their homes before being solicited by Precision Builders. It is alleged that, after homeowners filed claims with their insurance carrier, Gradziel and Sadowski would visit and damage the properties prior to the adjusters’ inspections.
As a result of the fraud, as employees of Precision Builders, Gradziel allegedly caused approximately $53,464 in claim monies to be obtained and Sadowski allegedly caused or conspired to cause approximately $15,256 in claim monies to be obtained for Precision Builders, both from Traveler’s Insurance Company. It is alleged that, in the majority of the cases, when the homeowners received money from Traveler’s Insurance Company for the damage, they would subsequently turn the money over to Precision Builders.
Acting Sergeant Anthony Butler, Detective Janessa Jones and Deputy Attorney General Dianne C. DiGiamber Deal were assigned to the investigation. Deputy Attorney General Deal presented the case to the state grand jury. Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Chillemi thanked Traveler’s Insurance Company, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Insurance Fraud Unit, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office and the National Insurance Crime Bureau for their assistance in the investigation.
The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000, while crimes of the third degree carry a maximum punishment of five years in state prison and a criminal fine of $15,000.
Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Chillemi 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 by 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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