POTTSVILLE — A Pottsville man is facing felony charges following a Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General investigation into allegations that he submitted false employment and wage information as part of an insurance claim.
Corey Michael McCabe, 52, of Pottsville, was charged on , with felony counts of presenting a false or fraudulent insurance claim and theft by deception. He also faces a misdemeanor count of tampering with records or identification.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General filed the charges before Magisterial District Judge James Reiley.
Insurance Claim Followed Pottsville Vehicle Incident
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations, the case stems from an , incident involving a State Farm-insured vehicle in Pottsville.
Investigators said the vehicle’s owner reported that she was dropping McCabe off at a relative’s home when she began pulling away without realizing he was retrieving items from the vehicle.
McCabe allegedly suffered a dislocated left shoulder and sprained left foot and later sought compensation through State Farm.
As part of the claim, authorities allege McCabe submitted a Wage and Salary Verification form stating that he was employed by “Prestine Landscaping” in Pottsville and had earned $27,509 in 2024. According to the affidavit, the document purported to contain the signature of the company’s CEO.
Investigators said State Farm settled McCabe’s bodily injury claim on , for $4,500.
Tip Leads to Insurance Fraud Investigation
The affidavit states that State Farm received information in November 2024 alleging that the wage-verification form had been forged and that the landscaping company identified on the document did not exist.
The matter eventually led to an investigation by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General after information was provided by a special agent with the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
In April 2026, investigators checked Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry records and allegedly found that McCabe’s last reported wages were from the second quarter of 2024 and did not correspond with the employment information provided to State Farm.
A search of Pennsylvania Department of State business records also allegedly failed to locate a company matching “Prestine Landscaping,” as the name was spelled on the form.
Investigators also searched a similar spelling of the company’s name and reported finding no matching Pottsville-area business associated with McCabe.
Attorney General’s Office Speaks With McCabe
According to the affidavit, an investigator with the Attorney General’s Office spoke with McCabe by telephone on .
Authorities said McCabe acknowledged the insurance claim and confirmed receiving the $4,500 settlement. When asked about the landscaping company, McCabe allegedly told the investigator that a friend owned the business.
After the investigator told McCabe that authorities believed the wage-verification form was false, the signature had been forged and the business did not exist, McCabe declined to answer additional questions, according to the affidavit.
The following day, McCabe sent a message indicating that he had not been an employee but had instead been helping a friend with “some simple side work,” according to the complaint.
The affidavit states that McCabe expressed an interest in providing clarification, but investigators subsequently did not receive another call or message from him.
$2,550 of Settlement Allegedly Represented Lost Wages
Investigators contacted a State Farm representative in August 2026 to determine what portion of the settlement was based on the disputed wage information.
According to the affidavit, State Farm reported that McCabe did not receive workers’ compensation or monthly benefit payments. However, $2,550 of the $4,500 settlement represented lost wages calculated using the wage-verification form.
Charges Filed in Schuylkill County
Court records show that the criminal complaint was filed October 1. The docket lists the case as awaiting a preliminary hearing.
The charges are allegations. McCabe is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.