Four individuals have been indicted in New Jersey for allegedly participating in a scheme to submit fraudulent travel insurance claims, according to an announcement by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP).
The defendants—Agustin Matos of North Haledon, New Jersey; Kenia Ivonne Vasquez of Bronx, New York; Keyra Carla Liriano and Patricio Arturo Alfonso, both of Fort Lee, New Jersey—face charges including conspiracy, insurance fraud, attempted theft by deception, impersonation/theft of identity, and falsifying or tampering with records. Liriano faces an additional charge of theft by deception. The state grand jury returned the indictment on December 5, 2025.
“The defendants in this case are charged with coming up with a simple—yet potentially lucrative—scam by taking out multiple travel insurance policies and then filing claims against them for trips they never actually took and for medical emergencies they allegedly fabricated,” said Attorney General Platkin. “The excellent work of our investigators and attorneys should make it obvious that we are always ready to prosecute these kinds of crimes.”
“Insurance exists for various reasons, and enriching yourself illegally is not one of them,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton. “Travel insurance allows people on vacation or business trips to know they are covered for health care in the event of an unforeseen emergency. The defendants we’re charging in this scheme tried to turn it into an illegal business.”
“This case underscores the importance of close cooperation between my office and the insurance industry,” said Interim Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Al Garcia. “After the insurance company identified suspected illegal activity and brought it to our attention, we launched an investigation that resulted in four individuals now facing criminal charges.”
Authorities allege that from April 2022 to August 2023, across Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties as well as New York and other locations, the defendants opened several travel insurance policies with different companies for the same trip using false identities and linked credit card information. They then allegedly filed claims asserting they had been hospitalized abroad due to medical emergencies during those trips—events which did not occur—and submitted identical information to multiple insurers while certifying no other coverage existed.
Investigators found that almost all records submitted were altered or fabricated. While most claims were denied by insurers, Liriano is accused of obtaining $14,835 in payments from two carriers through alleged deception. In total, authorities say approximately $252,852 was targeted through fraudulent claims: Matos ($19,986), Vasquez ($27,812), Liriano ($37,226), Alfonso ($167,829).
The OIFP began its investigation following a referral from American International Group Inc.’s Special Investigation Unit.
Deputy Attorney General Jana Robinson is prosecuting the case under Assistant Bureau Chief Evgeniya Sitnikova and Bureau Chief Crystal Callahan’s supervision. Detective Jessica Petri led the investigation with oversight from Sergeant Brian Bunn, Lieutenant Natalie Brotherston, Deputy Chief Kelly Howard and assistance from Investigator Anthony Mihalow.
According to state law:
– Second-degree charges may result in five to ten years in prison and fines up to $150,000.
– Third-degree charges carry three to five years’ imprisonment with fines up to $15,000.
– Fourth-degree offenses can bring up to 18 months’ incarceration and fines up to $10,000.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The OIFP coordinates anti-insurance fraud efforts statewide. Anonymous tips about suspected fraud can be reported via hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD or online submission; eligible informants may receive rewards if their information leads to conviction.
The New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin serves as a statewide agency responsible for legal enforcement activities across all counties within New Jersey. Its duties include safeguarding residents through law enforcement oversight and consumer protection services throughout the state.
