Friday, September 25, 2015

Cedar Grove Police Charge Elizabeth Woman Following Insurance Fraud Investigation

CEDAR GROVE, NJ -

 The Cedar Grove Police Department has arrested two women on charges relating to multiple instances of insurance fraud involving theft, fraud and forgery.
Carla A. Sousa, 27, of Hillside and Raquel A. Silva, 29, of Elizabeth were arrested following an ongoing detective bureau investigation into a July 27 report made by a Cedar Grove dentist.  The report alleges that Sousa, a former employee at the dentist’s office, submitted fraudulent claims to insurance companies on behalf of the dentist and then cashed the resulting checks, keeping the money.

The investigation revealed that between August 2013 and February 2015, Sousa submitted numerous fraudulent claims in patient’s names for work that was not performed and upon receiving checks, forged the doctor’s name and cashed the checks.  Seventy-seven checks were located totaling $32,661.

During the investigation, it was also determined that Sousa had submitted 10 fraudulent claims in the name of her friend Silva for work that was not performed.  It was determined the checks on those claims were cashed by Silva.
Sousa was arrested on Sept. 18, and charged with theft, forgery, identity theft and health care claim fraud.  Silva was arrested on Sept. 21, and charged with theft of $2,263 for the ten checks she received and cashed.  Both defendants were processed at police headquarters and released pending Superior Court proceedings.  Det. Sgt. Andrew McPhail was the investigating detective.

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