DA: Roosevelt man tried to steal $45,000 in insurance scam

A Roosevelt man has been arrested after he tried to steal about $45,000 in an insurance fraud scheme, prosecutors said Thursday.

Jamel McFadden, 32, was arraigned Wednesday on charges of third-degree insurance fraud and four counts of first-degree falsifying business records, according to the Nassau County district attorney’s office.

McFadden was ordered held without bail by Judge Paul Meli and is due back in court Friday. The defendant faces up to 7 years in prison on the top count, prosecutors said.

In August 2015 McFadden “submitted a motor vehicle no-fault benefits claim for personal injury to Progressive Insurance Company under the insurance policy of a woman he did not know,” prosecutors said in a news release.

McFadden falsely claimed he was a passenger who got hurt in a car driven by the woman, prosecutors said. He submitted medical bills to Progressive totaling about $45,000, and the company denied payment after an internal investigation, officials said.

McFadden had surgery for a torn rotator cuff and received treatments such as acupuncture and massages, prosecutors said

The National Insurance Crime Bureau referred the case to Nassau prosecutors in March 2016.

“Insurance fraud drives up premiums for every honest policyholder and my office is committed to holding accountable those who try and scam the system,” District Attorney Madeline Singas said in a statement.

McFadden was represented by the Legal Aid Society, which generally does not comment on cases.