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Truck Was Torched: DEP Cop Arrested In Insurance Scam Truck Was Torched Edward Kowalik, 32, was charged with Arson in the Third Degree, which is a Class C felony, and Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in jail. Burned Truck Mr. Kowalik is accused of paying an acquaintance to set fire to his truck, valued at $40,000, to fraudulently collect the insurance money. The DOI probe of his case led to arrests in two other insurance fraud schemes in upstate New York - one allegedly involving another law-enforcement agent. William Kloss was arrested for allegedly torching Mr. Kowalik's truck. If convicted of arson, he could face up to four years in prison. DOI's investigation stemmed from a police report responding to a distress call about a pickup truck on fire along Route 72 in upstate New York on Oct. 14, 2006. The truck was registered to Mr. Kowalik but was being driven by Mr. Kloss at the time. He told Police Officers the fire was a result of a mechanical malfunction under the hood. DOI investigators learned in December that Mr. Kowalik allegedly arranged to have his pickup truck intentionally set on fire. They notified State Farm Insurance Company, the truck's insurer. Based on information from DOI, State Farm completed a follow-up investigation and determined there was no mechanical failure and the fire appeared to be intentional. Mr. Kowalik stood to gain at least $36,000 from State Farm. Mr. Kloss later told authorities that his friend had paid him $1,000 to set the truck on fire. The allegations uncovered by DOI led to a joint investigation by DOI, the Sullivan County District Attorney's Office and the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Michael Foster resigned from his position as a Sergeant in the Fallsburg Police Department. DOI declined to disclose how Mr. Foster was connected to the case. The DOI investigation also resulted in the discovery of at least two other insurance fraud cases that allegedly involved Mr. Kloss, who State Police say intentionally wrecked cars for two other individuals so they could collect on the insurance money. According to the police, Mr. Kloss staged an accident in March 2004 by driving a 1995 Toyota pickup truck owned by Michael Brooks into a tree. Mr. Brooks received insurance money from the accident. He was arrested Feb. 27 and was charged with Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison. Sheriff's Staffer Charged Mr. Kloss also allegedly wrecked a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee in January 2006, which allowed Amanda Cox, a Corporal with the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, to submit an insurance claim, from which she received a payment. Ms. Cox was arrested Feb. 27 and charged with Insurance Fraud in the Third Degree, and has been suspended from the Sheriff's Office, according to the State Police. If convicted, she faces up to seven years in prison.
Additional charges are expected to be filed against Mr.
Kloss. |
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