A West New York couple turned themselves in Friday after they were charged with fraudulently obtaining insurance reimbursement for a cancelled trip, the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office said.
David Lutchmidat, 56, and 50-year-old Yvonne Sanichar were accompanied by attorneys when they reported to the prosecutor's office in Jersey City, where they were both arrested on charges of insurance fraud and theft by deception. Lutchmidat was also charged with forgery.
Both were released on their own recognizance.
Authorities say the two tried to get insurance reimbursement for a cancelled trip by submitting forged active military authorization in order to support their claim that the trip had to be cancelled due to military duty. They were seeking, and received, compensation for hotel and airfare costs.
Authorities also say Lutchmidat had not been on active military duty since 1998 and that the person who purportedly signed Lutchmidat’s active duty authorization was an Air Force Colonel who has actually been retired since 2005.
They are scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
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