Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and Morris County Chief of Detectives Robert McNally announce the arrest of Christopher Angst, 48, of Long Valley, and Michael McFadden, 54, of New Milford, for alleged insurance fraud.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office received a referral from the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor involving allegations of insurance fraud in connection with C&E Professional Painting LLC, located in Long Valley, and its owner, Christopher Angst. McFadden is employed as an insurance agent with Insuranze Associates in Hasbrouck Heights. Further investigation revealed McFadden had allegedly created false documents claiming Angst had a workman’s comp coverage policy, when in fact, the defendant did not have a workman’s comp insurance policy. The investigation revealed Angst had falsely presented his painting business to a client as being insured, and those documents were unknowingly submitted to an insurance carrier by the client. It is also alleged that Angst gifted McFadden a gold Police Benevolent Association card in exchange for the documents.
Angst has been charged by summons complaint with one count of fourth degree Falsifying/Tampering with Records, in violation of 2C:21-4(a); one count of third degree Insurance Fraud, in violation of 2C:21-4.6(a); one count of fourth degree Failure to Provide Worker’s Comp, in violation of 34:15-79(a); one count of fourth degree Forgery – Uttering Any Writing Known to be Forged, in violation of 2C:21-1(a)(3); and one count of third degree Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud, in violation of 2C:5-2.
McFadden has been charged by summons complaint with fourth degree Falsifying, in violation of 2C:21-4(a); one count of third degree Insurance Fraud, in violation of 2C:21-4.6(a); one count of fourth degree Hindering, in violation of 2C:29-3(b)(4); one count of fourth degree Forgery – Altering/Making, in violation of 2C:21-1(a)(2); and one count of third degree Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud, in violation of 2C:5-2.
McFadden was charged by summons on September 27, and Angst was charged by summons on September 28.
Angst is employed as an officer with the Montclair University Police Department.
Prosecutor Carroll would like to acknowledge the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Specialized Crimes Insurance Fraud Unit, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Montclair State University Police Department, Office of the Attorney General - Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance for their efforts in this investigation.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
