Cedar Grove Police Charge Former Dental Worker, Friend With Insurance Fraud

The Cedar Grove Police Department has charged two women with multiple instances of insurance fraud involving theft, fraud and forgery.

Police arrested the two suspects following an ongoing investigation into a Cedar Grove dentist’s claims that Carla A. Sousa, 27, of Hillside – a former employee at his office - submitted fraudulent claims to insurance companies in his name.

According to the dentist, Sousa then cashed checks issued by insurance companies and kept the money.

According to police, between August of 2013 and February of 2015, Sousa submitted numerous fraudulent claims in patient names for work that was not performed and upon receiving checks, forged the doctor’s name and cashed the checks.

Police stated that 77 checks worth $32,661 were cashed.

According to police, during their investigation, officers determined that Sousa had submitted ten fraudulent claims for work that was not performed in the name of her friend, Raquel Silva, 29, of Elizabeth.

Police subsequently determined the checks on those claims were cashed by Silva, according to a release.

Police arrested Sousa on Sept. 18 and charged her with Theft, Forgery, Identity Theft and Health Care Claim Fraud.

Police arrested Silva on Sept. 21, and charged her with theft with an aggregate total of $2,263 for the 10 checks she received and cashed.

Both defendants were processed at police headquarters and released pending Superior Court proceedings.