MAN SENTENCED TO 63 MONTHS IN GLASS-EATING FRAUD SCHEME

Boston, MA...A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in federal court to 63 months imprisonment for his role in a fraudulent scheme in which he, along with his wife, submitted false insurance claims based on injuries they suffered from eating glass. They falsely claimed that the glass was in food they had eaten at various restaurants and grocery stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland and the District of Columbia. In reality, they ate the glass on purpose, to create their bogus insurance claims.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Office, announced today that RONALD EVANO, a/k/a “Robert Evano,” “Robert Dixon,” “Ron Stevens,” “Ronald Ross,” “Ronald Rose,” “Robert Reed,” “Alex Benton,” “Ron Evans” and “Donald Hill,” age 49, residing at various addresses in Massachusetts, Maryland and West Virginia was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment and was ordered to pay over $340,000 in restitution for his role in defrauding restaurants, grocery stores, insurers, hospitals and doctors in a long running scheme in which he and his wife falsely that there was glass in food they bought.

At a hearing on August 15, 2007, EVANO pled guilty to charges that from August 1997 through June 2005, he and his wife engaged in an insurance fraud scheme in which they falsely claimed to have been injured by restaurants, hotels and supermarkets in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland and the District of Columbia. The EVANOS falsely claimed that various hotels, restaurants and supermarkets had served them food with glass particles. In some instances the EVANOS actually ate glass; but the glass did not come from food served by the restaurants, hotels and supermarkets. Rather, the EVANOS intentionally ingested the glass particles and then falsely claimed that the restaurants, hotels and supermarkets had caused the particles to be in food that they were served. In connection with their scheme, the EVANOS submitted their various glass ingestion claims under a variety of identities, using false identification and false social security number information. Through their fraudulent scheme, the EVANOS obtained in excess of $200,000 and incurred over $100,000 in medical bills, which are unpaid to date.

EVANO had a substantial criminal record of prior offenses, including theft, shoplifting, and construction fraud. At the sentencing, EVANO asked the judge to show mercy and explained that he was from the Roma, or gypsy, culture. He claimed that the funds he obtained in the scheme were needed for dowries and other costs associated with the marriages of his sons. In handing down the sentence, Judge Zobel noted that while she might not fully understand Mr.

EVANO ’s culture, it was clear that EVANO did not understand his obligations under the law.

EVANO's wife, MARY EVANO, who has also been charged in the Indictment is a fugitive.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack W. Pirozzolo of Sullivan’s Economic Crimes Unit.