Tuesday, December 16th, 2003 — New Jersey‘s Division of Criminal Justice Director Vaughn McKoy announced that a Pennsylvania man has been charged by the Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor with reportedly participating in a scheme to get rid of at least two automobiles by setting them on fire and reporting them stolen in order for the owners to submit fraudulent insurance claims.
According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Robert Halpin, 23, of Horsham, Pa., was charged with two counts of arson for hire (1st degree), conspiracy (2nd degree), aggravated arson (2nd degree), arson to collect insurance proceeds (3rd degree), and attempted theft by deception (3rd degree). A first degree crime carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in state prison and a fine of $200,000, while crimes of the second degree carry a maximum punishment of up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to$150,000.