Police Detective Pleads Guilty to Insurance Fraud

Port Chester police detective James Kumano pleads guilty to misdemeanor insurance fraud 
The Journal News by Erik Shilling  -  April 23, 2012

Port Chester, NY - A Port Chester police detective who was charged with felony insurance fraud after prosecutors said he swindled Allstate Insurance out of more than $3,000 pleaded guilty today to misdemeanor insurance fraud charges, ensuring that he won’t be automatically fired for a felony conviction. James Kumano, 39, of West Harrison, is expected to be fined $1,000 and be forced to pay $500 in restitution when he is sentenced July 17 by Judge Barbara Zambelli in state Supreme Court in White Plains. Kumano may also face probation, which would complicate any return to the line of duty, since those on probation are typically restricted from carrying firearms. Kumano declined comment outside the courtroom today, but Anthony Piscionere, his lawyer, said that Kumano pleaded guilty to save his job. “There’s always a risk [at trial],” Piscionere said, “and his job was on line.” Kumano was accused of reporting an accident involving one of his vehicles on March 22, 2009, and claiming then that damage to his car from a prior accident was in fact the result of that day’s crash. A subsequent plea deal in the case came just moments before a trial was to begin, and after Assistant District Attorney Brian Conway said that an insurance company employee whose testimony would be needed in the case had been fired from his job, and had stopped returning calls from the District Attorney’s Office. Kumano surrendered his gun and has been on modified duty since his indictment in November of last year. A former officer with the New York City Police Department, Kumano was hired by Port Chester in 2002, and has been a detective since 2007. “He’s an exemplary officer,” Piscionere said, adding that any disciplinary action from Port Chester “would be up to the village.” Kumano, who has no prior criminal record, will next submit to an interview with probation officers, who will compile a pre-sentence report for Zambelli. Port Chester police Chief Joseph Krzeminski did not immediately return calls seeking comment on the case.