New York State - Division of Criminal Justice Services

penalties. Accordingly, the office worked with the New York City Department ofFinance, Criminal Audit, and Tax Enforcement Unit.In 2008, the Rackets Division initiated an investigation into a corrupt ring ofindividuals who were engaged in numerous areas of criminal activity, including stealingmoney from automobile insurance companies by making false theft and vandalismclaims on late-model luxury cars and SUVs such as BMW, Lexus and Mercedes Benzsedans, Land Rovers, and Cadillac Escalades. From 2002 to 2008, this conspiracynetted the defendants more than $450,000 from eight different insurance companies.This investigation is ongoing and to date, has resulted in four felony pleas, all of whichinvolve jail time. Several defendants’ cases are still pending and the originalinvestigation has expanded and continues.To facilitate the successful prosecution of these organized and complex criminalenterprises, additional investigative techniques are being utilized such aseavesdropping warrants or wiretaps. The results have been positive, but the resourcesrequired to effectively conduct these investigations is quite extensive and laborintensive.The office also continues to investigate in a more conventional mannerindividuals who engage in no-fault insurance scams. They also often work as a group,to ensure the effectiveness of their scams. Investigations conducted in Kings Countyshow that there are many medical clinics that exist for the primary purpose of engagingin no-fault fraud. Many of these clinics work under multiple company names; however,the billing is generally handled by a number of entities.Kings County Office of the District AttorneyPerformance Measure Total Performance Measure TotalInvestigations initiated 3 MVT-related misdemeanor prosecutions 486Investigations filed with SAFETNet 0 MVT misdemeanor convictions 301Hits resulting from SAFETNet 0 MVT-related felony prosecutions 486Confidential informants developed 2 MVT felony convictions 90Warrants issued 0 Indictments 138New York County Office of the District AttorneyThe New York County District Attorney’s Office continued its coordinated effortsthroughout 2009 to effectively investigate, prosecute and reduce motor vehicle theft andinsurance fraud in Manhattan. Assistant district attorneys (ADAs) responsible for casesthat fall within the grant program are members of several different bureaus within theInvestigation Division and Trial Division of the Office. The program is overseen by thebureau chief of the Special Prosecutions Bureau, who has been a member of theprogram since its inception in 1999. In addition to the Special Prosecutions Bureau,ADAs in the Rackets Bureau and the Major Economic Crime Bureau have handledsignificant cases under the MVTIFP Grant Program. The most significant case pendingNYS DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES MVTIFP BOARD / ANNUAL REPORT 2009 Page 25