Office of the Attorney General: Somerset County Woman Pleads Guilty to $18,900 Disability Fraud

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

August 25, 2008

Contact: Division of Criminal Justice
609-292-4791


TRENTON - Attorney General Anne Milgram announced that a Somerset County woman pleaded guilty today to stealing $18,900 in temporary insurance benefits from the State of New Jersey and an insurance company.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Sandra Jackson, 45, of Somerset, pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Paul W. Armstrong in Somerset County to a criminal accusation which charged her with two counts of third-degree theft by deception and one count of fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records.

At the guilty plea hearing, Jackson admitted that between May 26, 2006 and Aug. 23, 2007, she fraudulently collected a total of $18,920 in disability benefits from the State of New Jersey and American Life Assurance Company of Columbus (AFLAC).

Jackson admitted that between Oct. 27, and Dec. 28, 2006, she submitted a fraudulent disability claim to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, falsely claiming that she was unable to work. As a result, Jackson received $3,854 in temporary disability benefits to which she was not entitled.

Jackson also admitted that between May 26, 2006, and Aug. 23, 2007, she submitted five false disability insurance claims to AFLAC and, as a result, received $15,066 in disability benefits to which she was not entitled.

Detective Janet Wustefeld and Deputy Attorney General Cheryl A. Maccaroni were assigned to the investigation into this case. Maccaroni represented the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor at the guilty plea hearing. Fraud Prosecutor Brown thanked the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and AFLAC for their assistance in this investigation.

Jackson is scheduled to appear before Judge Armstrong on Nov. 7 to be sentenced.