Former owner of Neb. auto glass company faces insurance fraud charges

The previous owner of an Omaha, Neb.-area automotive glass repair company is facing insurance fraud charges after an investigation by the Nebraska Department of Insurance Fraud Prevention Division. Douglas County Attorney Donald W. Kleine filed criminal charges against Thomas J. Dimitroff, the former owner of Omaha’s Metro Glass Incorporated. Arrested March 23, 2007, Dimitroff faces five felony counts of insurance fraud.

According to the insurance department, four of the five counts are Class III felonies, potentially carrying a sentence of a minimum of one-year imprisonment to a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment, or $25,000 fine, or both. The remaining count is a Class IV felony potentially carrying a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment, or $10,000 fine, or both.

Dimitroff is accused of submitting fraudulent invoices for auto glass repair and replacement to five different property and casualty insurance companies. The fraudulent billings allegedly occurred March 2004 to March 2007, resulting in a loss of approximately $90,000. In all, 151 victims have been identified in a scheme in which Dimitroff is accused of submitting for payment fraudulent invoices on behalf of, and without the knowledge of, consumers to the companies and/or their third-party administrators.