MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arrest of a Brooklyn woman for allegedly filing a false insurance claim on a car that she knew was seized by police.
Gleudys Ilarraza, 46, was arraigned this morning before Judge William Hohauser and charged with:
- Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (a D felony)
- Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree (a D felony)
- Falsifying Business Records in the Frist Degree (an E felony)
The defendant was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court January 24. If convicted of the top count she faces 2-1/3 to seven years in prison.
“This defendant is accused cashing in on an insurance claim by reporting her car stolen to her insurance company and the police, even though she knew it had been impounded by the police,” DA Singas said. “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime, because false claims raise the cost of insurance for everyone and I applaud the work of our partners in the DEA for making sure this defendant is held accountable for her actions.”
DA Singas said that in February 2014, a 2009 Buick Enclave that was registered and insured in the defendant’s name, was impounded at the time of her boyfriend’s arrest in a DEA drug investigation. Rather than attempting to recover the vehicle from law enforcement, the defendant is accused of falsely reporting it stolen to her insurance company, Geico. In April of 2017, the defendant also reported the vehicle as stolen to the NYPD to support her alleged fraudulent insurance claim. She also provided statements supporting her fraudulent claim to the Woodbury offices of Geico. In addition to the vehicle, she also reported the loss of a purse valued at $1,455, sunglasses valued at $200, a Garmin GPS valued at $120 and a white diamond ring valued at $1,000. All the items were claimed to be inside the vehicle at the time of the alleged theft. In June 2014, two checks were written by Geico payable to the defendant totaling $10,072.10 for her fraudulent claim.
When the DEA ran a DMV records check for the vehicle, it revealed the defendant had reported it stolen nearly two months after it was seized and while the DEA was in possession of it. The DEA later referred the matter to the NCDA’s Office Vehicle Theft and Fraud Unit.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brian Heid, Unit Chief of DA Singas’ Vehicle Theft and Fraud Unit. The defendant was represented by Legal Aid Society for her arraignment.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
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