Jason Kurland is a former insurance defense attorney from Long Island, New York who was convicted in 2020 on charges related to a multi-million dollar wire fraud scheme. Kurland pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, admitting that he stole over $80 million from insurance companies over the course of his scheme. In January 2021, Kurland was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in federal prison for his role in the fraud.
Overview of Jason Kurland’s Case
Jason Kurland was a personal injury lawyer based in Long Island. Beginning around 2013, Kurland began defrauding insurance companies by inflating the settlement amounts for his clients. His scheme involved utilizing runner’s and collarborators to find potential clients. Kurland would then represent these clients in personal injury lawsuits, lying about the details of the accidents to justify larger settlements.
As part of the scheme, Kurland utilized illegal kickbacks, falsifying records, staged accidents, excessive treatment by corrupt doctors, and other fraudulent tactics to extract the maximum possible settlement from insurance companies, much of which ultimately went into his own pocket. Kurland attempted to conceal the scheme through shell companies and steering the illegally obtained money through a complex web of transfers.
Arrest and Charges
Kurland’s scheme unraveled in 2019 when he became the subject of a fraud investigation by the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. He was arrested in December 2019 on charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
Prosecutors alleged that Kurland had defrauded more than 60 different insurance carriers out of over $80 million over a 5-6 year period through his elaborate settlement scheme. Some of the specific charges included:
– One count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud
– Five counts of wire fraud
– One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering
– Two counts of obstruction of justice
In total, Kurland faced up to 20 years in prison for the charges.
Guilty Plea
In October 2020, Kurland chose to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped the other charges he was facing.
By pleading guilty, Kurland admitted that he knowingly engaged in a scheme to defraud insurance companies by falsely inflating settlement amounts for his clients. He conceded that his actions resulted in a loss of over $80 million.
Kurland also acknowledged as part of the plea that he had laundered a portion of the money he obtained illegally by transferring through various bank accounts and shell companies he controlled.
Sentencing
Jason Kurland’s sentencing hearing took place on January 19, 2021 at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, NY.
During the 3 hour hearing, prosecutors pushed for a lengthy prison sentence, arguing that Kurland had not taken full responsibility for his actions and highlighting the massive scale of the fraud he orchestrated. Kurland’s defense attorneys asked for leniency, citing his charitable works and lack of a prior criminal record.
Ultimately, Judge Denis Hurley settled on a sentence of 6 1/2 years (78 months) in federal prison. In addition to the prison time, Judge Hurley ordered Kurland to pay restitution of $83,289,305 to the insurance companies he defrauded. Kurland was ordered to report to begin his sentence on April 20, 2021.
Breakdown of Sentence
Here is a breakdown of the final sentence Jason Kurland received:
– 78 months (6.5 years) in federal prison
– 3 years supervised release
– $83,289,305 in restitution
He received 60 months for the wire fraud charge and 18 months for the money laundering charge, to be served consecutively.
The judge did not impose the maximum 20 year sentence that Kurland could have potentially faced. However, the over 6 year prison term and large restitution order still constituted a severe punishment for the fraud and theft Kurland had committed.
Reactions to Kurland’s Sentence
The reaction to Jason Kurland’s 78 month prison sentence was mixed.
Prosecutors and representatives of the insurance companies expressed that they were pleased Kurland would be serving a lengthy prison term commensurate with the massive scope of his fraud. Many felt justice was served by the severe financial penalty as well.
Some of Kurland’s former clients he had defrauded felt the sentence was too lenient given the damage done. There were calls for Judge Hurley to have imposed the full 20 years allowed by the charges.
Kurland’s defense team was disappointed in the nearly 7 year sentence, feeling it did not properly account for his charitable works and cooperation. But they accepted that some prison time was inevitable in a fraud case of this magnitude.
Many legal experts felt the sentence was appropriate and fairly standard for a white collar criminal of Kurland’s profile who pleaded guilty. The prison term fell within federal sentencing guidelines given the financial impact and number of victims.
Overall the sentence balanced punishing Kurland for the seriousness of his criminal actions while acknowledging the mitigating factors that favored some leniency.
Key Facts About Kurland’s Sentence
– Sentenced to 78 months (6.5 years) in federal prison
– 3 years supervised release after prison
– Restitution order of $83,289,305 to insurance companies
– Sentenced on 1 count of wire fraud, 1 count of money laundering
– Began serving sentence on April 20, 2021
– Could have faced up to 20 years maximum
– Considered typical sentence for similar guilty plea
– Prosecutors pleased with prison term length
– Defense hoped for more leniency from judge
What Prison is Kurland Serving Time In?
Jason Kurland is serving his 78 month federal prison sentence at FCI Fort Dix, a low-security federal correctional institution in New Jersey.
Some key facts about FCI Fort Dix:
– Located about 40 miles from Philadelphia
– Houses approximately 3,000 male inmates
– Low security federal prison with dormitory housing
– Inmates share common areas and participate in work programs
– Typical amenities include recreation fields, weight rooms, classrooms, commissary
– Average annual cost to house an inmate is around $30,000
As a non-violent white collar offender, Kurland qualified for placement in a low security facility like FCI Fort Dix rather than a higher security penitentiary. However, conditions are still restrictive with limited freedoms compared to life outside prison.
Kurland will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence before being eligible for release. This equates to roughly 5.5 years in prison before he can be transferred to a halfway house or home confinement.
What Was Kurland Convicted Of?
Jason Kurland was convicted of:
– One count of wire fraud
– One count of money laundering
He pleaded guilty to these charges in October 2020 as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York.
The wire fraud charge related to Kurland using electronic wires to process fraudulent settlements as part of his scheme to defraud insurance companies. This included things like wiring settlement payments and communicating across states lines using phones and email.
The money laundering charge stemmed from Kurland transferring the proceeds of his fraud through various bank accounts, entities, and middlemen in an attempt to conceal the illegal source of the funds.
As part of his plea, Kurland admitted to defrauding insurance companies out of over $80 million through inflated or outright fraudulent settlements over a multi-year period. The wire fraud and money laundering charges were representative counts of the broader criminal operation.
By pleading guilty, Kurland avoided going to trial and facing additional charges including racketeering conspiracy and obstruction of justice. His plea deal resulted in a sentencing recommendation from prosecutors that likely reduced his overall prison time versus if he had been convicted at trial.
What Type of Lawyer Was Kurland?
Jason Kurland worked as a personal injury lawyer representing clients in accident and injury claims against insurance companies and other entities. He had his own law firm prior to being indicted which was based in Long Island, New York.
Some additional details about Kurland’s background and experience as a lawyer:
– Graduated from Syracuse University College of Law in 2001
– Began working at a personal injury law firm after graduating law school
– Founded The Kurland Group law firm in 2013 focusing on injury claims
– Advertised aggressively to attract new clients for his firm
– Maintained law offices in East Meadow, Syosset and Queens, NY
– Employed a team of other lawyers, paralegals, and staff
– Previously seen as a rising star in the plaintiff’s attorney field
– Described as charismatic and ambitious as a lawyer
– Ultimate scam took advantage of his insider knowledge and status
Kurland used his experience in personal injury law to mastermind an elaborate scheme of inflated settlements, falsified claims, and fabricated evidence. His knowledge of how to successfully win large settlements for clients was key to perpetrating the multi-million dollar fraud that landed him in prison.
How Much Money Did Kurland Steal?
According to prosecutors, Jason Kurland’s scheme defrauded insurance companies out of over $80 million in total over a period of around 5-6 years.
Some key details on the money Kurland stole through fraud:
– Total confirmed losses to insurers of $83,289,305
– Amount accounted for in his restitution order after sentencing
– Stole approximately $20 million of the funds for his own personal use
– Rest was distributed to co-conspirators as kickbacks
– Routed stolen money through various shell entities
– Set up sham corporations and bank accounts to hide funds
– Lived lavishly from proceeds including luxury cars, travel, real estate
– Case involved over 60+ different victim insurance carriers
– Typical fraudulent settlement was $50k-$100k
– Maximum settlement inflated to around $1 million
The large restitution order of over $83 million that Judge Hurley imposed indicates that investigators were able to account for nearly all of the estimated funds Kurland stole through his elaborate settlement scheme. The amount was likely a key factor in determining his ultimate 6.5 year prison sentence.
How Did Kurland Carry Out the Fraud?
Jason Kurland carried out his extensive insurance fraud scheme through a variety of means:
– **Recruited “runners” to find potential clients:** Kurland paid recruiters to locate individuals willing to file injury lawsuits and exaggerate claims.
– **Bribed doctors for fraudulent medical records:** Doctors cooperating with Kurland would produce sham medical evaluations and treatment records to justify larger injury settlements.
– **Staged/planned accidents:** In some cases accidents were intentionally orchestrated to generate injury claims.
– **Falsified evidence and testimony:** Kurland fabricated police reports, witness statements, and other evidence to strengthen the fake claims.
– **Funneled settlements through shell companies:** The inflated settlements went through sham entities Kurland set up to conceal the funds.
– **Paid kickbacks for referrals:** Kurland paid colleagues and others for each referral sent his way as part of the scam.
– **Misled clients about settlements:** Many clients were told their settlements were smaller than they actually were.
– **Obstructed investigations:** Kurland attempted to impede insurance company investigations into suspicious claims.
Through these unethical and illegal tactics, Kurland was able to systematically defraud insurance carriers out of millions of dollars over a multi-year period before his scheme finally came crashing down.
How Did Kurland Get Caught?
There were a few key events that ultimately led to Jason Kurland’s downfall and the unraveling of his multi-million dollar insurance fraud scheme:
– **Pattern of suspicious claims:** Insurance companies noticed a trend of inflated and dubious claims coming from Kurland’s law practice.
– **Client testimony:** Some clients of Kurland began cooperating with investigators, providing information about staged accidents and kickbacks.
– **Undercover operations:** Law enforcement conducted undercover operations, including an agent pretending to be an accident victim seeking a settlement. Recorded Kurland making incriminating statements.
– **Tax issues raised scrutiny:** Kurland’s lavish spending and reported income raised red flags with the IRS, which helped spur investigations.
– **Subpoenas for records:** Insurance investigators subpoenaed bank records, communications, and documents that revealed parts of Kurland’s fraud.
– **Criminal informants:** Some of Kurland’s co-conspirators flipped and became informants, providing insider knowledge of the scheme.
While it took years for his scheme to come to light, once insurers and criminal investigators began collaborating the extensive evidence of fraud became impossible for Kurland to cover up or defend against. The scams intricate design ultimately led to its unraveling.
Who Were Kurland’s Main Co-Conspirators?
While Jason Kurland was the mastermind behind the scheme, he had multiple collaborators and co-conspirators who played key roles:
– **Christopher Miniero:** Previously worked for Kurland before starting own law practice. Paid kickbacks for fraudulent client referrals.
– **John Scarpa Jr.:** Recruited personal injury plaintiffs and facilitated staged accidents. Criminal with mafia ties.
– **Francisco Moya:** Medical clinic owner who paid kickbacks for patient referrals and produced sham medical records.
– **Md Uddin:** Physician who falsified medical records and prescribed unnecessary treatment to boost claims.
– **Andrew Grossman:** Facilitated financial transactions to hide fraudulent proceeds.
– **Todd Hall:** Ran therapy clinic involved in manufacturing phony patient treatment records.
These co-conspirators along with corrupt doctors, clients, runners, and other associates enabled Kurland to carry out wide-ranging fraud on such a huge financial scale. Most faced criminal charges themselves cooperated with prosecutors in exchange for lighter sentences.
Conclusion
The conclusion and summary of this article are:
– Former personal injury lawyer Jason Kurland was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in federal prison in January 2021 for running a massive insurance fraud scheme.
– He pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, admitting he had defrauded insurers out of over $80 million.
– Kurland recruited clients to file inflated injury claims and bribed doctors to produce fraudulent medical records to justify large settlements.
– His complex scheme involved staged accidents, falsified documents, shell companies, and illegal kickbacks.
– Insurance companies grew suspicious of his dubious claims, sparking investigations that unraveled the scheme.
– Kurland’s prison sentence and huge restitution order of over $83 million show crimes against insurance carriers carry steep penalties.
– The case serves as a warning to dishonest lawyers and others contemplating insurance scams, which can unravel given concentrated investigation.
