50-Year-Old Egg Harbor Township Man Charged With 3 Counts Of Insurance Fraud & 1 Count Of False Reporting

Sunday, June 23, 2024, 7:30 A.M. ET. By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ.- Atlantic County Prosecutor William E. Reynolds reported, that following an investigation, on Friday, June 14, 2024, Clay Stake, 50, of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey was taken into custody and charged in connection with with false reporting and multiple counts of third-degree insurance fraud.

     Following being processed on the charges Stake was released on a summons complaint pending future court proceedings in Atlantic County Superior Court in Mays Landing, New Jersey.

     The charges stem from an investigation that began on August 27, 2023, when Detectives of the Absecon Police Department contacted Stake that a motor vehicle registered to him was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Absecon, New Jersey. Stake during the inquiry told Detectives must have been stolen from his property. Stake also filed an insurance claim that coincided with what he said to Detectives.

     During an extensive investigation by Detectives of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit were able to determine that Stake was actually operating the motor vehicle at the time of the crash. Accordingly, following the investigation Stake was charged with three counts of third-degree Insurance Fraud; and one count of third-degree False Reports to Law Enforcement.

“The rules of the court requires us to include a statement, that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”