Holley running mate admitted to insurance fraud three months ago

Just three months after admitting to insurance fraud, Christian Veliz has now entered the race for the Democratic nomination for State Assembly in the 20th district on a slate led by Jamel Holley.

Veliz had let his automobile insurance policy lapse for non-payment at 12:01 AM on November 28, 2019 and was involved in an accident on November 29 at 12:31 PM.  One hour later, he reinstated his policy was the Progressive Insurance Company after attesting that he was not involved in any accident or loss during the period he had no insurance.

In a consent order with the state Department of Banking and Insurance in December 2020, Veliz conceded a violation of the New Jersey Insurance Fraud Prevention Act and agreed to pay a $2,625 civil administrative penalty and surcharge.  The order Veliz signed acknowledged that this would be considered his first offense.

Holley made insurance fraud a top issue in his 2011 campaign for mayor of Roselle.

The incumbent, Garrett Smith, had been accused hit a parked car after leaving a bar on Christmas Day.  The mayor fled the scene but allegedly left a trail of auto fluids from the bar to the garage at his home.

Prosecutors claimed that Smith later moved his car into the street and filed a claim with his insurance company after claiming a snowplow hit his vehicle.

Holley defeated Smith in the Democratic primary by a 49%-29% margin.  Smith was sentenced to 90 days in prison after a 2015 plea agreement.

As a legislator, Holley sough to amend the state’s insurance fraud law to protect innocent persons who were injured as a result of deceptive actions by policyholders.

Veliz, 32, serves on the Elizabeth Public Library Board.

The New Jersey Globe was unable to contact Veliz.  A cell phone number is no longer in service, and he did not respond to a direct message on Facebook at 8:52 AM.