EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Merrimack Valley
Insurance fraud suspect captured in New Jersey
Published: October 14, 2008
LAWRENCE — One of two men charged with staging a 2003 car crash that killed a woman, setting in motion a sweeping probe of auto insurance fraud in the city, has been arrested in Perth Amboy, N.J., police said.
Hairo Gomez, 28, of 7 Hall St., has been missing since Feb. 27, 2007, when he failed to attend a hearing in Salem Superior Court for his trial on manslaughter charges.
Police Chief John Romero said Gomez was being held on $150,000 bail in New Jersey after he was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute over one-half an ounce, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in a school zone.
Romero said Gomez also was being held on a fugitive from justice warrant from Massachusetts for his role in the insurance fraud case.
He said he would speak to the district attorney's office about Gomez's rendition from New Jersey as soon as he becomes available.
"I'll send people down (to get him). This was the case that started everything," Romero said.
Gomez had been free on $10,000 cash bail in the September 2003 case in which investigators said he and another man staged a two-car crash with the intention of defrauding an insurance company.
But Altagracia Arias, 65, of 65 Union St., a great-grandmother riding in the back seat of the 1992 Acura Legend driven by her grandson, Jacinto Maldonado Jr., 24, of 14 Bodwell St., died of head injuries suffered in the crash.
The car drove through a stop sign at East Haverhill and Ferry streets and collided with a second car driven by Gomez.
Gomez was originally held on $100,000 cash bail, but that amount was reduced to $10,000.
Maldonado fled the city before police could arrest him, and investigators traced him to his native Dominican Republic.
He was captured by U.S. Marshals, assisted by Dominican authorities, in January 2006.
He was sentenced to two years in the Middleton jail in November of last year.
