Fraud Round-up

Ill. duo accused of torching auto dealership for insurance money

After an investigation of more than four months, two McHenry, Ill., residents have been charged with the fire at a McHenry car dealership in April, police said.

Arrested were John Krawec, 43, and his girlfriend, Anna Julecki, 26, both of the 4300 block of North Richmond Road, said McHenry police detective John Birk. The fire occurred in the early morning hours of April 26 at the All Truck Stop Inc. car dealership, 3021 W. Route 120. It was determined to be arson by fire investigators from the McHenry Police Department and the McHenry Township Fire Protection District.

Krawec, the owner of the All Truck Stop, was arrested last week and charged with arson, a Class 2 felony; residential arson, a Class 1 felony; conspiracy to commit arson, a Class 4 felony; insurance fraud, a Class 1 felony; and conspiracy to commit fraud, a Class 2 felony.

Birk said Julecki was charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud, both Class 2 felonies. The arrests came after an investigation by the McHenry police, which included assistance from McHenry Township Fire Protection District investigators and McHenry County sheriff’s police. Birk said the investigation is continuing and more arrests may be made.

Source: Coalition Against Insurance Fraud

Ill. couple videotape themselves committing insurance fraud

A Union County, Ill. couple’s plan to crash a van into a tree and collect the insurance money was caught on a tape they created–unbelievable as it seems.

The plan of action was to smash Robert and Teresa Hammond’s van into a tree and then pick up the insurance check.

States Attorney Allen James explained that the the first time the van is crashed into the tree, Robert Hammond is driving the vehicle. Then the next two times, it’s driven by Paul Gaines, Margaret Dillavou’s boyfriend. James explained that the Hammonds owed Margaret Dillavou rent money. She picked up the insurance check, but then, evidently lost the tape.

Dillavou’s ex-husband, as part of a divorce settlement, received a stack of video tapes. After reviewing the tapes he realized that on one was footage of insurance fraud being committed, the states attorney said. The irate ex-husband turned the tape into police and the States Attorney had full footage of the crime.

The couple evidently were having a party and one thing lead to another. For the Ssate’s Attorney everything was laid out in “black and white.”

The couples faced felony charges that carried up up five years in prison, but after they paid the insurance company back the $4,300 they defrauded the company, they plead guilty to misdemeanor charges instead.

The couples’ punishment now is 24 months of probation, $750, as well as paying court costs and performing forty hours of community service.

Source: Coalition Against Consumer Fraud