Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) today announced that a Florida couple has been charged with first-degree conspiracy and money laundering, and second degree insurance fraud for allegedly filing nearly $800,000 in false claims for refrigerated cargo purportedly spoiled in cross-country transport by the couple’s long-haul trucking companies in Middlesex.
Palm Coast, Florida residents Alexei Legassov, 55, and Ekaterina Khlaponina, 37, were also charged with second-degree theft by deception and attempted theft by deception in an indictment handed up by a state Grand Jury in Trenton. Legassov, who also resides in Staten Island, was further charged with misconduct by a corporate official.
According to the indictment, the couple owned and/or controlled various long-haul trucking companies in Middlesex County, including, but not limited to, Akmos Trade Limited; Moon and Eggplant Limited; Passing Score LLC; and G.K. Refrigerated Line, LLC.
According to the indictment, between July 2012 and May 2017, under the guise of their various cargo hauling companies, the pair allegedly filed and/or caused to be filed at least nine fraudulent insurance claims to at least three insurance companies. The nine claims sought approximately $796,500 in total settlement funds to cover losses purportedly incurred when truck refrigeration units broke down in transport, damaging and/or destroying fruits, vegetables, frozen cakes and other refrigerated cargo. In reality the cargo was not damaged and/or destroyed and/or did not exist, according to the indictment.
Harleysville Insurance Company (“Harleysville”), which has now merged with Nationwide Insurance Company, and AIG and/or Lexington Insurance Company paid six settlement claims totaling approximately $509,000 to Akmos Trade Limited and Moon and Eggplant Limited, according to the prosecutor.
Thereafter, the settlement checks were received and deposited into bank accounts owned and/or controlled by Legassov and/or Khlaponina, according to the indictment.
Three claims seeking approximately $288,000 total, were denied by Harleysville and Progressive Insurance Company, according to the prosecutor.
The indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. First-degree crimes carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $500,000. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $150,000.
Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Iu noted that some important cases have started with anonymous tips. People who are concerned about insurance cheating and have information about a fraud can report it anonymously by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD, or visiting the Web site at www.NJInsurancefraud.org. State regulations permit a reward to be paid to an eligible person who provides information that leads to an arrest, prosecution and conviction for insurance fraud.