Politics & Government

Update: 'Missing Swimmer' Raymond Roth Arrested

Massapequa resident accused of faking his own death charged with insurance fraud.

"Missing" swimmer Raymond Roth has been arrested more than two weeks after he allegedly faked his own death at Jones Beach, state Park Police said Wednesday. 

Roth was taken into custody at about 7:40 a.m. after being released from a hospital. His lawyer, Brian Davis, had told reporters that .

Roth will be charged with insurance fraud, conspiracy and falsely reporting an incident, State police said.  He was ordered held on $100,000 bail.

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Davis told Newsday [paid site] his client was "astounded" to learn he was being charged with an insurance scam.

"He was trying to escape the pressures of bills," Davis insisted. "He never planned to do anything with the insurance."

from Jones Beach by his son Jonathan on July 28, setting off a massive search,, a few days later.

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"While authorities, friends, and neighbors searched tirelessly for Mr. Roth, he was on his way to his timeshare at the West Gate Lake Resort in Orlando Florida," Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Roce said.   Roth left behind a recently drafted will that was improperly executed, and hoped that by faking his own death, at least $410,000 in life insurance policies would be paid to his son and his wife.

"Though it is very unlikely that insurers would have paid on the policies pursuant to Mr. Roth's directives, he nonetheless attempted to defraud insurers, abandon his problems at home, and begin a new life in Florida."

Jonathan Roth for his role in the alleged conspiracy. He was accused of helping Roth fake his own death to obtain life insurance proceeds.

Raymond Roth's wife Evana, who is divorcing her husband gave law enforcement officials emails indicating that he was planning a trip at the time he was reported missing. Her lawyer Lennard Leeds issues a statement saying his client, " understands that her husband, Raymond Roth, and stepson, Jonathan, have accused each of other of masterminding the scheme to fake the elder Roth's death in a drowning accident off Jones Beach. Mrs. Roth looks forward to having a jury assess the credibility of both defendants and determine who is telling the truth and who is not." 


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