Rochester Man Charged with Auto Insurance Fraud

NY Insurance Superintendent Gregory V. Serio announced the arrest of Kevin Palmer, 25, of Rochester, on automobile insurance fraud charges.

Palmer allegedly “reported on December 1, 2001 that his car had been stolen while he was visiting friends in Massachusetts and at the same time, he submitted a claim to Progressive Insurance Company for the theft of his vehicle. Subsequently, Mr. Palmer located his vehicle and did not report it to the proper authorities”, said the announcement.

Palmer was arrested, following a joint investigation conducted by the Insurance Department’s Frauds Bureau, New York State Police Auto Theft Unit in Rochester, and Progressive’s Special Investigation Unit, which found that Progressive had paid Palmer $25,185.40 last January to settle the stolen vehicle claim.

However, it’s alleged that Palmer didn’t tell anyone at Progressive that he was in possession of his stolen vehicle.”It is further alleged that he re-registered his vehicle with new license plates to conceal the fact that he was in possession of the stolen vehicle. On March 2, 2002, acting on a tip, investigators recovered the stolen vehicle,” said the announcement.

Palmer, a local teacher, was released on his own recognizance, faces up to seven years in state prison, if he is convicted on the charges.

Topics Auto Fraud