Heidi Li Feldman (@heidilifeldman.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy)

Four People Charged in Travel Insurance Conspiracy ###### **For Immediate Release: January 2, 2026** **Office of the Attorney General** – Matthew J. Platkin, _Attorney General_ _ _**Division of Criminal Justice** _ –_ Theresa L. Hilton _,_Director __**Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor** __** **__– Al Garcia,__Interim Insurance Fraud Prosecutor __ ###### **For Further Information:** **Media Inquiries-** Matthew Reilly [email protected] **TRENTON** – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) announced four people have been indicted for their roles in a scheme to file fraudulent travel insurance claims. Agustin Matos, 40, of North Haledon, New Jersey; Kenia Ivonne Vasquez, 44, of Bronx, New York; and Keyra Carla Liriano, 45, and Patricio Arturo Alfonso, 46, both of Fort Lee, New Jersey; are each charged with one count of conspiracy (second degree); insurance fraud (second degree); attempted theft by deception (third degree); impersonation/theft of identity (third degree); and falsifying/tampering with records (fourth degree). Liriano is additionally charged with theft by deception (third degree). The indictment by a state grand jury was returned 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.” OIFP received a referral from the Special Investigation Unit of American International Group Inc. (AIG). From April 2022 to August 2023, in Bergen, Hudson and Passaic counties, New York, and elsewhere, the defendants allegedly opened several travel insurance policies with multiple insurance companies, covering the same trip to the same foreign destination. When applying for these policies, they allegedly used false identities and provided credit card information that tied them together. The defendants allegedly would then file claims with each carrier, falsely asserting they had been hospitalized abroad and had incurred thousands of dollars in medical expenses, which were covered under the travel insurance policies. The defendants allegedly submitted identical information to multiple carriers, while certifying they had no other insurance covering the medical expenses or the trip. OIFP’s investigation revealed that the defendants had not traveled to the countries as alleged, and they had never been hospitalized as they claimed. Almost all records defendants submitted to insurance companies as part of this scheme were allegedly altered, fraudulent, or completely fabricated. Most of the insurance companies denied the fraudulent claims. However, Liriano is charged with theft by deception for allegedly obtaining $14,835 in claim payments from two carriers. Together, the four defendants attempted to defraud the insurance companies of approximately $252,852 as follows: Matos – $19,986; Vasquez – $27,812; Liriano – $37,226; and Alfonso – $167,829. Deputy Attorney General Jana Robinson is prosecuting the case for OIFP under the supervision of Assistant Bureau Chief Evgeniya Sitnikova and Bureau Chief Crystal Callahan. The investigation was conducted by Detective Jessica Petri, under the supervision of Sergeant Brian Bunn, Lieutenant Natalie Brotherston, and Deputy Chief Kelly Howard, with assistance from Investigator Anthony Mihalow. Interim Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Garcia thanked his staff for their work on this case, as well as AIG. Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Fourth-degree offenses carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. OIFP’s mission includes coordination of all anti-insurance fraud activities statewide, and many successful prosecutions are a result of initial anonymous tips. If you are concerned about insurance cheating and have information about a fraud, OIFP wants to hear from you. You can report fraud anonymously by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-877-55-FRAUD or visiting www.NJInsurancefraud.org. State regulations permit a reward to be paid to eligible persons who provide information that leads to an arrest, prosecution, and conviction for insurance fraud. ### https://www.njoag.gov/four-people-charged-in-travel-insurance-conspiracy/