Two Men Arrested in Morris County for Alleged Insurance Fraud Scheme

Christopher Angst and Michael McFadden face multiple charges for allegedly falsifying workman’s comp coverage and other insurance documents.

Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll and Chief of Detectives Robert McNally announced the arrest of two individuals, Christopher Angst, 48, of Long Valley, and Michael McFadden, 54, of New Milford, for their alleged involvement in insurance fraud activities.

The Arrests and Charges

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, acting on a referral from the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, arrested Christopher Angst, owner of C&E Professional Painting LLC, and Michael McFadden, an insurance agent with Insuranze Associates. Angst is accused of presenting false documents, claiming his painting business was insured with workman’s comp coverage, which it was not. McFadden allegedly created these false documents for Angst. It is also alleged that Angst offered McFadden a gold Police Benevolent Association card in return for the false documents.

The arrests highlight the ongoing efforts of Morris County authorities to clamp down on insurance fraud, an issue that has both legal and ethical implications for the community at large.

The Legal Details

Angst faces several charges, including fourth-degree Falsifying/Tampering with Records, third-degree Insurance Fraud, fourth-degree Failure to Provide Worker’s Comp, fourth-degree Forgery – Uttering Any Writing Known to be Forged, and third-degree Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud.

McFadden has been charged with fourth-degree Falsifying, third-degree Insurance Fraud, fourth-degree Hindering, fourth-degree Forgery – Altering/Making, and third-degree Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud. Both men were charged by summons, McFadden on September 27 and Angst on September 28.

Additional Context

Angst is currently employed as an officer with the Montclair University Police Department. Prosecutor Carroll acknowledged multiple agencies for their efforts in this investigation, including the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Specialized Crimes Insurance Fraud Unit, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Montclair State University Police Department, Office of the Attorney General - Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.

The case against Christopher Angst and Michael McFadden serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in fraudulent activities. Although the charges are allegations at this point, they are part of ongoing efforts to maintain legal and ethical standards within Morris County. "A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law," notes the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.