Fictitious Repairs Billed to Insurer Over Three-Year Period, Prosecutors Say
A Newburyport man has pleaded guilty in federal court to orchestrating a scheme that defrauded a home repair insurance provider out of almost $2.2 million by billing for repairs that were never performed.
Christian Decristofaro, 40, admitted to one count of wire fraud during a hearing Monday before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani. Sentencing is scheduled for June 23, 2025.
Federal prosecutors allege that between October 2020 and June 2023, Decristofaro used his company, NE Premier Home Services LLC, to fabricate a stream of fraudulent insurance claims. According to charging documents, Decristofaro enrolled NE Premier as a contractor with the unnamed insurance provider, then created false homeowner identities to purchase insurance coverage from the company.
He allegedly submitted claims for fictitious home emergencies under those false identities, ensuring that NE Premier was assigned to perform the non-existent repair work. Prosecutors say NE Premier then submitted invoices for services that were never rendered, resulting in approximately $2,196,323 in fraudulent payouts from the insurer.
Decristofaro was initially arrested and charged by criminal complaint in October 2024.
The wire fraud charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The case also carries potential restitution and forfeiture penalties. Final sentencing will be determined according to federal sentencing guidelines and statutes.
The announcement was made jointly by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Leslie A. Wright of the Criminal Division.
