The son of a Massapequa man accused of faking his own death has been ordered held on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.
Jonathan Roth, 22, was arraigned Monday in Nassau County First District Court in Hempstead.
more than a week after Raymond Roth, missing at Jones Beach. Four days later his father was dafter police briefly stopped him in South Carolina.
His son was charged with insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and falsely reporting an incident. Raymond Roth has not been heard from for several days.
On Friday, Raymond Roth's wife, before he disappeared. She said he received emails from his father, indicating he was planning a trip. She also said her husband tripled his life insurance payouts, drained their bank account and sent her threatening text messages.
Jonathan Roth's girlfriend told the Associated Press that she didn't think Ross could make bail.
The girlfriend, Kristi Mayleas, also told the Daily News, she believes he's innocent.
"He was so incredibly upset when he thought his dad drowned,” she said.
"He was running up and down the beach looking for him. He hasn't slept since this happened. He has barely eaten. He was mad and angry at his dad when he realized he was alive.”
According to the complaint filed by prosecutors, Roth and his father, "executed a plan to create the false impression that Raymond Roth had died, which included the defendant making a false report to the New York State Park Police at Jones Beach so as to obtain over $50,000 in the proceeds from life insurance policies taken out in the name of Raymond Roth."
Roth told Park police that he saw his father walk into the ocean chest high near Field 6 at Jones Beach, according to the complaint. The subsequent search involved police 4x4s, marine patrols a helicopter, 40 lifeguards, fire department swim teams and the U.S. Coast Guard.
"The defendant was fully aware that his father had never walked into the water and had in fact driven off on his personal vehicle," the complaint said.
Lennard Leeds, a lawyer fo Evana Roth, issued a statement saying, his client will have "no involvement" regarding the arraignment and bail.
