Woodbridge man admits motorcycle insurance scam

He told two insurance companies, on two occasions, that vandals stripped his motorcycle. But Lew Alicock, 32, of Woodbridge, admitted to New Jersey investigators that he paid a repair shop to do it, in order to file claims and collect. Now he risks up to three years in prison.

That's the term that prosecutors will recommend at Alicock's August sentencing for his guilty plea to two second-degree counts of insurance fraud, according to the office of acting New Jersey Attorney General Robert Lougy. He also agreed to pay $5,512.98 in restitution to Pacific Specialty Insurance company.

Alicock told investigators that in May 2013, he claimed that parts including fairings and the slip over the exhaust pipe of his Yamaha were removed outside his mother's house in Irvington, but that he had it done by a mechanic, who replaced the parts four days after he filed. He cashed Pacific's check for $5,512.96, authorities said.

The following November, Alicock filed a claim with Rider Insurance, describing the theft of parts worth more than $1,000 while the bike was stored in Newark, while paying to have the parts taken off. Rider rejected the claim.

"This defendant thought he could score some easy cash by filing false insurance claims, but the only thing he earned was jail time," Lougy said in prepared remarks. "Criminals who seek to enrich themselves by cheating the insurance system will face the consequences."

Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Christopher Iu said that false claims are a top priority. "This kind of fraud not only victimizes insurance companies, it also drives up costs for honest policy holders," Iu said.

State regulations allow rewards for information leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of insurance cheats. Anyone with knowledge of insurance fraud can report it anonymously at the Attorney General's insurance fraud web portal, or at 1-877-55-FRAUD.