Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas recently announced the arrest of three people connected to an insurance scam in which they allegedly staged an accident in Levittown in September 2013.
The defendants Tiffany Dertinger, 22, of Massapequa, Michael Lopez, 25, of Massapequa and Erin Clyne, 29, of Rockville Center, were arraigned on Sept. 30, by Nassau County District Court Judge Paul Meli. Clyne and Dertinger were released on their own recognizance. Lopez was conditionally released to the Department of Probation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brian Heid of Singas’ Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau. The defendants returned to court on Oct. 2.
“The defendants allegedly staged a crash and pretended to have injuries, but their scheme began to unravel once investigators saw through their foolhardy plan,” said Singas. “Insurance fraud is all too common in Nassau County and these actions raise rates for honest policyholders.”
Dertinger and Lopez were charged with insurance fraud in the fourth degree (an E felony), falsifying business records in the first degree (an E felony) and conspiracy in the sixth degree (a B misdemeanor). Clyne was charged with insurance fraud in the fourth degree (an E felony) and conspiracy in the sixth degree (a B misdemeanor).
Another defendant, Steven Baptiste, was arraigned on the same charges as Dertinger and Lopez on Sept. 3, in the Nassau County District Court before the Honorable Judge James Darcy. Bail was set in the amount of $2,000 bond or $1,000 cash. His next court date is Oct. 9.
The investigation is ongoing, however, Baptiste, Dertinger and Clyne face a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison on the top charge. Lopez faces a maximum of two to four years on the top charge.
According to Singas, Baptiste allegedly organized and staged a motor vehicle accident with the other defendants on Sept. 6, 2013, at approximately 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Division Avenue and School House Road in Levittown.
According to the police report, a 2013 U-Haul truck that was rented and operated by Clyne struck a 2002 Mitsubishi, which was owned and operated by Dertinger. The report noted that the passengers in Dertinger’s car included defendants Baptiste and Lopez and that no one was injured in the accident. There was minimal damage to both vehicles and an ambulance was not required and the vehicles were removed by the drivers.
On Sept. 27, 2013, Republican West Insurance (RepWest), the insurance underwriter for U-Haul, received a claim submitted on behalf of a co-conspirator for no-fault insurance benefits. On Oct. 7 of that same year, Traveler’s Insurance Company, which insured the Mitsubishi, received claims submitted on behalf of Baptiste, Dertinger and Lopez for no-fault insurance benefits as well. In filing their claims, Baptiste, Dertinger and Lopez stated that they had neck and back pain as a result of being struck in the rear by another vehicle.
One co-conspirator submitted a bill to an insurance company for orthopedic treatment received on Sept. 27, 2013 in the amount of $1,466.28. Dertinger also submitted a claim for damage to her Mitsubishi in the amount of $673.
RepWest investigators discovered that the accident had been planned and orchestrated by Baptiste, who enlisted the help of other defendants. It was also determined that the injuries claimed were nonexistent and the Mitsubishi was not damaged.
The case was then referred to the DA’s office by RepWest and DA investigators then conducted an investigation, which gathered additional evidence establishing the criminal conspiracy and other related crimes committed by the defendants.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
