42-year-old Jonathan R. Taylor, Newark, NJ police officer and Plainfield, NJ resident, has pleaded guilty to insurance fraud early last month according to the Essex County prosecutor’s office.
Taylor stated his car was stolen while the vehicle was found burned. He then submitted a fraudulent claim to his car insurance carrier.
According to investigators, Taylor’s Toyota Sequoia was reported stolen on March 1st, 2013. Newark police discovered the SUV in flames in Newark. Prosecutors say a motive included expensive repairs to the SUV which had over 100,000 miles on it, accompanied by high payments and 20% in accruing interest monthly.
Taylor served on the Newark force for 17 years. As part of the plea agreement, “the state will recommend a probationary sentence but Taylor must resign from the force,” according to Claims Journal.