Slammer for Jones Beach scammer

The man who faked his own death as part of a life insurance scam in the ocean off Jones Beach two years ago was sentenced on April 24 to 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison, according to the Nassau County district attorney’s office.

Raymond Roth, 49, of Massapequa Park, was reported missing by his son, Jonathan Roth, 24, on July 28, 2012. Jonathan said his father disappeared in the waters off Jones Beach. The Nassau County Police Department dispatched its Bureau of Special Operations, the marine unit and a helicopter. They were joined in the supposed rescue effort by bay constables from the towns of Hempstead and Oyster Bay, the New York State Park Police and dozens of Jones Beach lifeguards. The search lasted several days.

While the search was in progress, Roth was found alive and well, on his way to a timeshare in Orlando. Roth allegedly believed that by faking his death, he could help his wife and son collect at least $410,000 in life insurance benefits, and he would assume a new identity in Florida.

On Aug. 1, 2012, Roth’s wife discovered emails exchanged by her husband and Jonathan, her stepson, in which they discussed the fake death plot. She notified New York State Park Police.

Roth was pulled over by police in South Carolina the following day. He was identified by his driver’s license, which he had pulled from his wallet before disappearing from Jones Beach. He had also used the license to check into the timeshare. He was arrested on Aug. 6.

Then, on March 21, 2013, Roth approached a woman in Freeport, officials said. While pretending to be a police officer, he demanded that she get into his vehicle, saying that if she did not, she would be arrested. When the woman refused, according to police, Roth followed her to a check-cashing business, where he tried to gain access to a locked back door. He was arrested on March 27, 2013.

“Due to the criminal acts committed by this defendant, first responders were diverted from their lifesaving duties to be unwilling players in a scheme to defraud an insurance company of thousands of dollars,” Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said of the incident at Jones Beach. “Then, on the same day he pleaded guilty to this crime, he went back out into the community and threatened a woman with arrest, followed her, and attempted to break into her place of business. With today’s sentence, Mr. Roth will finally be held accountable for his utter disregard for the law and public safety.”

Roth pleaded guilty in March 2013 to fourth-degree conspiracy for the insurance fraud scheme. A year later he was convicted of third-degree attempted burglary, first-degree criminal impersonation, second-degree attempted unlawful imprisonment and second-degree criminal impersonation for the Freeport incident.

“It was tough but not unfair,” Roth’s attorney, Brian Davis, said of the sentence. “My client had his opportunity for a 90-day sentence, and then he had the second arrest. The court did not look kindly on that.”

Davis added that Roth has already served about 400 days of his sentence, meaning that he will be up for parole in about 15 months.

On March 4, Jonathan Roth was sentenced to one year in jail.