Press  Release

 

 

Media Contact:

                                                                                                                                                            Barbara Richardson

                                                                                                                                                            Barbara.Richardson@ins.nh.gov

                                                                                                                                                            603-271-2261

                                                                                                                                                            603-271-1406 - FAX

                                                                                                                                   

 

 

NH INSURANCE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN CRIMINAL CONVICTION FOR

INSURANCE FRAUD AND CRIMINAL SOLICITATION

 

July 7, 2006 - Concord, NH – Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny and Rockingham County Attorney James Reams announced today that Jesse Gregoire, of Portsmouth, NH, pleaded guilty on July 7, 2006 to one count of insurance fraud and one count of criminal solicitation.  An investigation by the NH Insurance Department Fraud Unit led to Friday’s guilty plea in Rockingham County Superior Court.  Gregoire also pleaded guilty to an unrelated count of forgery.

 

In August 2003, while a customer at a Portsmouth restaurant, Gregoire was involved in a fight, during which he threw a bottle at another patron.  Although the bottle missed the patron, it caused major damage to the establishment’s entertainment unit.  Gregoire falsely reported to Merchants Mutual Insurance Group, the company that insures his business, that he had accidentally caused the damage to the entertainment unit while working at the establishment.  Gregoire also attempted to solicit the restaurant owner to participate in the misrepresentation in order to ensure Merchants Mutual would pay the claim. 

 

On the insurance fraud and criminal solicitation charges Gregoire was given a 1-3 year suspended sentence in the New Hampshire State Prison, was fined $1000 for each charge, and was ordered to pay restitution of $3645.  On the unrelated forgery charge, Gregoire was given a 1-3 year suspended sentence in the New Hampshire State Prison, and ordered to pay a $1000 fine and $1650 in restitution.  These matters were prosecuted by Assistant Rockingham County Attorney William Pate. 

 

The Insurance Department’s Fraud Unit encourages the public to report suspected insurance fraud and other insurance related crimes.  Insurance fraud is estimated to account for at least 10% of premiums paid by consumers.

 

To report suspected fraud call 1-800-852-3416. Callers may remain anonymous if they choose.

 

Additional information on insurance fraud may be obtained from the NH Insurance Department by calling toll free number above, by accessing the department’s web site at

www.state.nh.us/insurance/consumer, or by writing the NH Insurance Department at 21 South Fruit Street, Suite 21, Concord, NH 03301.

 

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ABOUT THE NH INSURANCE DEPARTMENT

The first insurance regulator in the US, the NH Insurance Department was created in 1851 and charged with enforcing and administering New Hampshire’s insurance laws.   The department, an agency of the executive branch of New Hampshire state government, conducts safety and soundness and market conduct examinations of licensees, licenses insurance companies and insurance producers, reviews premium rates and policy forms, provides assistance, information and referral services to New Hampshire insurance consumers, and administers the filing and collection of New Hampshire’s insurance premium tax.    For more information, visit the Insurance Department’s web site at:  www.nh.gov/insurance.