Indictment: N.J. Man Lied About Being Carjacked
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - State authorities say a northern New Jersey man fabricated a story about being carjacked so he could get about $38,500 from his insurer.
Acting Attorney General John Hoffman announced Wednesday that 42-year-old Maurice Douglas, of East Orange, is charged with insurance fraud, attempted theft by deception and false reports to law enforcement. The charges were in an indictment handed up Monday by a state grand jury.
Douglas reported the alleged carjacking to East Orange police in March, saying two men stole his 2007 Mercedes S-550 as he exited the vehicle at his house. Officers found Douglas' damaged car the next day in an abandoned lot.
According to a news release, an investigation by the East Orange police found time and date stamped surveillance video of the route Douglas said the suspects fled. But the state says the videos they uncovered do not show any of the carjackers' vehicles they were said to be driving when they took off.
Douglas could face nearly 17 years in prison if he's convicted. It wasn't known Wednesday if he has retained an attorney.
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