Octogenarian Brothers Arrested In Fake Car Theft Insurance Fraud Investigation In Westchester: NYSP

SOMERS, NY — Two brothers hatched a plan to get an insurance payout, but things didn't exactly go to plan, according to police.

Troopers from Somers arrested two men after an investigation into a false report of a stolen vehicle that was made to obtain an insurance payout, the New York State Police said.

On June 24, state police received a complaint from 81-year-old Salvatore J. Amato, of Somers, about his 1981 Fiat Spider being stolen from the ACME Markets parking lot, on U.S. Route 6 in the Town of Somers, earlier that morning.

According to NYSP investigators, they reviewed license plate reader data and surveillance video from the shopping plaza, and found that the vehicle had never entered the parking lot as reported.

When confronted with the evidence, Amato admitted that he had fabricated the theft report to try to collect insurance proceeds, NYSP said. He also admitted that he had arranged for the vehicle to be left in the Bronx and that his brother, 83-year-old Frank Amato, of Long Island, helped by driving him back to Somers, according to police.

Salvatore Amato was charged with felony third-degree insurance fraud; felony first-degree falsifying business records; misdemeanor false written statement; misdemeanor third-degree falsely reporting an incident; and misdemeanor fifth-degree conspiracy.

Frank Amato was charged with felony first-degree falsifying business records; misdemeanor false written statement; misdemeanor third-degree falsely reporting an incident; and misdemeanor fifth-degree conspiracy.

After consulting with the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, the brothers were processed and released on their own recognizance. They are scheduled to appear in the Town of Somers Justice Court.