MINEOLA, N.Y. – A New York man who faked his own drowning in an insurance scam has been cleared of attempting to kidnap a woman off a suburban street, the top count against him.
But a Nassau County Court judge ruled in a non-jury trial Friday that Raymond Roth was guilty of impersonating a police officer and other charges.
Prosecutors say Roth tried to force a woman into his van in 2012 but she ran into a store where she worked. They say Roth then entered the store and claimed to be a detective but left after employees said they were calling police.
A defense attorney says Roth thought the woman was a prostitute.
Roth had previously pleaded guilty to faking his own Jones Beach swimming death in a 2012 insurance fraud scheme.
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