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A Philadelphia man misrepresented the date of his accident, police said
One Philadelphia man is facing felony charges after attempting to allegedly defraud his insurance company by filing a false claim. The Whitemarsh Township-based Progressive Insurance agency’s staff, which noticed the discrepancies, notified Pennsylvania’s Office of the Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, insurance fraud section, to the crime.
John Williams, 33, of the 2400 block of N. Napa St., Philadelphia, is charged with three felonies, including fraudulent insurance claim, criminal use of a communication facility, criminal attempt of theft by deception, and one count, a misdemeanor charge, of insurance/intent to defraud after he falsely reported an accident days after obtaining a new policy, according to police.
Williams, per reports, purchased a Progressive car insurance policy to cover a 2020 Nissan Altima, a vehicle is registered to his wife, Jacqueline Harris, on Friday, May 5, 2023. According to police, Williams then reported on May 11, at 3:39 p.m., an accident involving the vehicle, stating the accident happened that day around 12:30 p.m. Williams told Progressive representatives, according to reports, that he was traveling through an intersection at 33rd and Diamond streets and was struck by another vehicle. He said that he did not obtain the other driver’s insurance information, per reports, noting "I don’t think they had any.”
Police said that Williams stated he did not gather the other driver’s information but did know the year and make of the vehicle, along with its license plate. On May 11, at 4:01 p.m., a Progressive representative recalled Williams to ask if police were called to the scene, and Williams said that had not been called, and that no tow truck was needed for either car involved, police said. Per police reports, the date of loss (when the accident occurred) was confirmed again via telephone on May 12, with Williams to Progressive. He again told insurance representatives that the accident was on May 11, police reported.
On May 15, police reports indicate that Williams reached out to Progressive, and stated in a voicemail that he was “going through a lot right now,” and that he wanted to “be honest with you [the representative].” At that time, per reports, Williams said that the accident occurred on May 4, and not on May 11.
On May 17, Progressive reached out to Harris and Williams, via telephone, to explain a decline of coverage. Additionally, the company said it would be canceling the policy due to fraud and misrepresentation. Police reports noted Williams stated he “is not at fault” and said “Insurance fraud? Wait. Hold on,” and that the call then disconnected.
Police reported that on May 23, a letter from Progressive on denial of the claim was mailed to Williams, adding that the $8,490 in claims would be denied. Police also reached out to State Farm Insurance on May 17, who had covered another driver, also of Philadelphia.
State Farm had received a claim on May 17, according to police reports, with its driver who had been involved in the accident with Williams. The State Farm driver stated that she was at the same intersection, 33rd and Diamond streets in Philadelphia, and that no police arrived, but an ambulance did that day of the accident, May 4. Williams had told the driver at the scene he had no insurance, police said. Philadelphia Police records confirmed a call was placed on May 4 at 11:15 a.m. for a two-car accident in that intersection, noting that EMS Unit Medic 45 had responded for possible injuries.
Police reports show that Williams did admit to police via telephone on June 22, 2024, around 12:32 p.m., that he had purchased insurance after being involved in the accident, stating “I didn’t really know how insurance works,” and also that “the whole thing was a big misunderstanding. I wasn’t trying to do anything illegal.”
Williams added to police, according to reports, that he also had confessed to Progressive on May 15 the year prior. Williams was charged on July 6, 2024 with three felony charges and a misdemeanor as a result of the alleged fraud. He was arraigned on July 26, when a bail of $5,000 unsecured was set. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial Judge Dara Nasatir on Aug. 7 at 11 a.m.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
