WCNYH

Port Watchman Suspended After Arrest on Insurance Fraud and Other Charges

March 3, 2015

           Port Watchman Michael Mesquita has been suspended by the Commission and a Notice of Hearing issued after he was arrested and charged with Insurance Fraud, Falsifying Business Records, Making a Punishable False Written Statement, Falsely Reporting an Incident, and Leaving the Scene of an Incident without Reporting/Property Damage.

           According to the Criminal Court Complaint, Mesquita left the scene of a motor vehicle accident without exchanging information with witnesses. Mesquita subsequently falsely reported to both the New York City Police Department and Geico Insurance Company that his vehicle had been stolen when in fact it had been involved in the accident. The criminal case is being prosecuted by the Queens County District Attorney’s Office.

           The Commission temporarily suspended Mesquita’s license as a port watchman pending the outcome of an Administrative Hearing on the matter.