(WNY News Now) – A former Buffalo police officer has been sentenced for orchestrating a fraudulent auto theft claim.
BUFFALO, NY — Dewayne Raye, a 35-year-old former Buffalo police officer, was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge in Erie County Court today after pleading guilty to insurance fraud charges.
Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced the sentencing, which stems from an incident on November 12, 2023. Raye falsely reported to his auto insurance provider that his 2021 Dodge Ram pickup truck had been stolen. Investigators determined the claim was fraudulent after uncovering that Raye had sold the vehicle to a buyer in Suffolk County without transferring the title.
The buyer, who later reported the vehicle as stolen, prompted an investigation involving the Suffolk County Police Department, the NYS Department of Financial Services, and Buffalo Police Internal Affairs. The investigation revealed the fraudulent nature of Raye’s claim before any insurance payout was made.
As part of a plea agreement, Raye resigned from his position with the Buffalo Police Department. On October 2, 2024, he admitted guilt to one count of Insurance Fraud in the Fifth Degree, a Class “A” misdemeanor.
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