A Newburyport, Mass. man was arrested and charged in a scheme to defraud a home repair insurance provider.Christian Decristofaro, 40, was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly used false or stolen identities to enroll non-existent or unsuspecting homeowners in insurance plans with the victim insurance provider, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Massachusetts District said in a statement.According to the attorney’s office, Decristofaro allegedly caused NE Premier Home Services, described by investigators as “a purported home repair company he controlled,” to enroll as a contractor with the home repair insurance provider.He then allegedly reported fictitious home emergencies to the victim on behalf of the purported homeowners and requested that NE Premier be assigned to perform the repairs.Decristofaro then allegedly caused NE Premier to bill the victim insurance provider for the repair jobs, even though inspections of the properties showed no evidence of any repair work having been done, the Attorney’s Office said.As a result, the insurance providers allegedly ended up paying NE Premier $1.5 million for services that they never provided.Decristofaro now faces charges of wire fraud and could face up to 20 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, restitution and forfeiture.
A Newburyport, Mass. man was arrested and charged in a scheme to defraud a home repair insurance provider.
Christian Decristofaro, 40, was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly used false or stolen identities to enroll non-existent or unsuspecting homeowners in insurance plans with the victim insurance provider, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Massachusetts District said in a statement.
According to the attorney’s office, Decristofaro allegedly caused NE Premier Home Services, described by investigators as “a purported home repair company he controlled,” to enroll as a contractor with the home repair insurance provider.
He then allegedly reported fictitious home emergencies to the victim on behalf of the purported homeowners and requested that NE Premier be assigned to perform the repairs.
Decristofaro then allegedly caused NE Premier to bill the victim insurance provider for the repair jobs, even though inspections of the properties showed no evidence of any repair work having been done, the Attorney’s Office said.
As a result, the insurance providers allegedly ended up paying NE Premier $1.5 million for services that they never provided.
Decristofaro now faces charges of wire fraud and could face up to 20 years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, restitution and forfeiture.