Story by Ethan
On October 2nd, 2025, the arrest of John Philbin, age 48, was announced by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. John Philbin was charged with second-degree Insurance Fraud and second-degree Insurance Theft. The arrest and charges against John Philbin were a result of an investigation handled by OIFP Detective Shawn McDonald, Detective Joseph Wilsbach, Detective Briana Rafferty, Sergeant Brian Bunn, Lieutenant Joseph Waters, Lieutenant Natalie Brotherston, Deputy Chief Kelly Howard, Terry Worthington, Marwa Kashef, Gloucester Township Police Department, and the Assurant Insurance Company.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, John Philbin allegedly created 11 fictitious insurance claims and created fake invoices from fabricated companies claiming the need for mitigation or restoration work between October 3rd, 2022, and May 22nd, 2023. John Philbin had proper access in order to commit the alleged crimes due to his employment status as a property claims adjuster for Assurant Insurance Company. The defendant’s position of authority within the company allowed him to approve insurance claims. It’s alleged that John Philbin used his position to assign the false insurance claims to himself, approve them himself, and subsequently have the funds for the fake claims be distributed to himself for personal benefit. The defendant allegedly attempted to conceal his crimes further by using different post office boxes in both Clemton, New Jersey and Blackwood, New Jersey. Internal audit logs and unique identification led to connecting John Philbin to several of the false insurance claims, leading to approximately $191,163 being paid out for his personal use.
The Attorney General’s Office stated that the charges against John Phiblin are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
