A Camden County resident was sentenced to three years in prison for insurance fraud related to a house fire, according to a March 12 announcement by Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, the Division of Criminal Justice, and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.
The case highlights concerns about the impact of fraudulent claims on honest policyholders and the integrity of the insurance system. Authorities say that when individuals file false claims, it can increase costs and undermine trust in insurance protections.
Richard Orlandini, 65, of Cherry Hill, pleaded guilty on December 1 before Superior Court Judge Judith Charny to second-degree insurance fraud. The sentence was imposed on March 6 in state Superior Court in Camden. According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Orlandini’s home was destroyed by fire on October 20, 2018. He submitted a claim to Allstate Insurance and hired a public adjuster who reported that the cause of the fire was unknown—a statement authorities later determined was false.
Attorney General Davenport said, “Homeowners pay a substantial amount of money for insurance to protect what is often their biggest investment. The system depends on everyone being an honest broker and when someone cheats the system by filing a claim for benefits to which they are not entitled, we all stand to lose.”
Theresa L. Hilton, Director of the Division of Criminal Justice, said, “The defendant in this case admitted to making false statements in an effort to obtain a financial payout from his insurance carrier. His attempt to secure an unearned payday failed, and today, he was held accountable for his crime.” Interim Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Al Garcia added: “Insurance fraud schemes like this undermine the integrity of the insurance system and place an unfair burden on honest policyholders. This sentence sends a clear message that insurance fraud will not be tolerated, and those who attempt to profit through deception will be held accountable.”
Investigators found that Orlandini also submitted rental agreements that were not valid at the time and claimed reimbursement for hotel stays he did not qualify for. He listed personal property items as destroyed—such as designer handbags and Lego sets—that he did not own or possess before the fire.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including OIFP detectives; local police; state police; federal agents from ATF; Allstate Insurance Company; and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Deputy Attorney General Alan Babbitt led prosecution efforts under supervision from Assistant Bureau Chief Evgeniya Sitnikova and Bureau Chief Crystal Callahan.
According to the official website, the New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin aims to protect residents’ lives and property while upholding legal standards across all counties in New Jersey. The office influences public safety through law enforcement oversight statewide according to its statutory mandate. Services include legal representation for state agencies, crime lab support, victim advocacy programs, consumer protection initiatives—and coordination with local law enforcement throughout New Jersey according to its official description.
OIFP encourages anyone with information about suspected insurance fraud cases to report tips anonymously via hotline or online submission forms. State regulations allow rewards for eligible individuals whose information leads directly to arrest or conviction.
