Suffolk County DA's office files 104-count indictment for fraud and

Long Island Business News, Dec 27, 2002 by Ben Abelson

Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota's office has charged 21 people, three auto collision repair shops, and a car dealership with fraud and racketeering.

The 104-count indictment centers around the three auto body shops owned by Dean Poupis, who owns Masters Collision shops in Seaford and East Meadow and is part owner of Cavalier Auto Body in Huntington Station. It describes a scam in which damages were made worse in order to obtain larger insurance claims.

Spota's office also charged 13 insurance appraisers for allegedly providing higher damage estimates to insurance companies for vehicles the adjusters knew to be intentionally damaged by body shop workers.

Spota's Insurance Crime Unit has made more than 300 arrests since January for auto insurance fraud, racketeering and other felonies.