N.Y. Man Charged with Fraudulent Claim on House Fire

New York Superintendent of Insurance Gregory Serio announced that Larry Dornburgh of Roseboom, N.Y. had been arrested and charged with two counts of insurance fraud.

Dornburgh allegedly attempted to defraud both Utica National Insurance Company and Cherry Valley Co-Operative Insurance Company of more than $100,000. Both of these insurance companies received claims filed by Dornburgh following a fire that occurred on June 27, 2002 in Roseboom NY. The fire destroyed an empty home that was once owned by Dornburgh, however most recently belonged to Otsego County.

The investigation revealed that the house was empty and had not been owned by Dornburgh since 1999. Each of the insurance carriers received extensive lists of contents that Dornburgh alleged were destroyed in the fire. Utica National received a list totaling over $71,000, and Cherry Valley Co-Operative received a list totaling $55,000. The fire has been ruled as incendiary, and the investigation is continuing.

The investigation was conducted by the Insurance Frauds Bureau with assistance from the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, Otsego County District Attorney’s Office, Otsego County Office of Emergency Services, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Utica National Insurance Company, and Cherry Valley Co-Operative Insurance Company. If convicted of these charges, Dornburgh faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Topics Fraud New York