Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Insurance Fraud

Attorney General Michael A. Delaney and NH Insurance Commissioner Roger A. Sevigny announce that Peter St. Laurent of Nashua, has pleaded guilty in Hillsborough County Superior Court South to one Class B felony insurance fraud, on charges he tried to buy insurance after having an accident.

St. Laurent received a 12-month House of Corrections sentence and a $1,000 fine, both of which were suspended on good behavior and successful completion of one year of probation. 

St. Laurent is also required to write a letter of apology to Progressive Northern Insurance Co.

This case of suspected fraud was referred to the NH Insurance Fraud Unit for investigation pursuant to RSA 417:28. St. Laurent was in a single car accident on the evening of August 15, 2011 when his car struck a jersey barrier near Exit 3 on Daniel Webster Highway in Nashua. State Police were dispatched to the scene at 10 p.m. and a tow truck was requested at 10:17 p.m. St. Laurent rode in the tow truck as his car was towed to his mother’s home a few minutes from the scene. At 11:24 p.m. Progressive initiated a policy for St. Laurent by telephone. The following morning, St. Laurent called Progressive and reported that at around 1 a.m. on August 16, 2011, he had been in a car accident. The damages claimed were in excess of $1,000. Due to suspicious circumstances, the claim was investigated further. On August 24, 2011, when Progressive asked St. Laurent to provide a complete statement about the accident, he withdrew the claim.

The prosecution was a collaboration between the NH Attorney General’s Office and the NH Insurance Department. The Insurance Fraud Unit was formed under RSA Chapter 417 to investigate and prosecute insurance fraud and insurance related criminal activity with the assistance of the NH Department of Justice. All insurers licensed in the state are required to report suspected insurance fraud to the NH Insurance Department Fraud Unit pursuant to RSA 417:28.