Juan Forero's decision to steal a cell phone from a grocery cart at the Somers Point ShopRite has lead to him now facing eight criminal charges, including for health care and insurance fraud.

According to a press release from the Atlantic County Prosecutor's office, the 34-year-old Pleasantville policeman was first identified for that theft and then found to be gaming his health insurance policy from the city of Pleasantville.

On April 26, 2017, detectives from the Somers Point Police Department were called to investigate the reported theft of an Apple iPhone 7 Plus from the Somers Point Shop Rite. A review of surveillance video showed a male, later identified as Juan Forero take the phone from a shopping cart. He was accompanied by a female later identified as Haydee Forero.   Juan Forero was subsequently identified as a Pleasantville Police officer. At that point, the Internal Affairs Section of the Pleasantville Police Department and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, Official Corruption Unit joined the investigation.

During the course of their investigation they discovered that Juan Forero and Haydee Forero were married in 2006 but that they had divorced in 2011.

Forero became an officer in the Pleasantville Police Department in January 2015 and applied through the City of Pleasantville for health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield. In making that application he certified in writing that he was married to Haydee Forero and provided their 2006 marriage certificate as proof. Haydee subsequently became a beneficiary under the plan. From 2015 to 2017 Blue Cross Blue Shield paid more than $90,0000 toward Haydee’s health care which would have cost approximately $320,000 out of pocket. During the same time period the City of Pleasantville incurred an additional expense of approximately $21,000 premium payments to cover her.

Through further investigation, it was learned that Juan Forero engaged in similar behavior while employed by AtlantiCare prior to becoming a Pleasantville Police Officer. During that time period, AtlantiCare incurred approximately $4,000 in costs associated with coverage for her.

Juan Forero, 34, of Pleasantville is charged with the following:

  • Third degree Theft by Unlawful Taking, namely an iPhone 7 Plus
  • Two counts of third degree Theft by Deception
  • Fourth degree Unsworn Falsification to Authorities
  • Third degree Insurance Fraud
  • Two counts of second degree Healthcare Claims Fraud
  • Second degree Theft by Deception

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