Bergen Woman Pleads Guilty To Superstorm Sandy Fraud

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A local woman pleaded guilty to filing fake insurance claims for losses following Superstorm Sandy, authorities announced Wednesday.

Katreecea Cline, 49, of Elmwood Park pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree insurance fraud and second-degree fraud by insolvency in a hearing before Bergen County Superior Court Judge James J. Guida, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced.

Cline admitted submitting fake and altered receipts to her insurance company alleging that items in her apartment, son's college dorm room and brother's Keansburg home were damaged during Superstorm Sandy, Grewal stated.

Cline collected $53,800 on those fraudulent claims.

Cline and her husband had $175,000 in debt wiped out by a federal bankruptcy court judge. They filed a false bankruptcy claim where they failed to report they owned land and had a bank account with Metabank.

Cline admitted to filing the false bankruptcy claim. Charges filed against her husband Stevie Mitchell in connection with the claims will be dismissed when Cline is sentenced June 29.

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Photo: Katreecea Cline, 49/New Jersey Attorney General's Office