North Jersey Chiropractor Pleads Guilty to Hiring Illegal 'Runners'

A North Jersey chiropractor pleaded guilty Wednesday to paying “runners” to get patients to file insurance claims at his practice, authorities announced.

Dr. Joseph Salomone pleaded guilty to illegal running in front of Superior Court Judge Greta Gooden-Brown, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes said. He will be sentenced to three years in state prison and must pay a $10,000 fine.

Salomone paid “runners,” to obtain police accident reports and called the victims, authorities said. The runners referred the victims to Salomone’s practice, the Pain and Injury Center of North Jersey in Paterson, so they could file injury claims against their auto insurance policies.

Salomone paid the runners between $800 and $1,000 for each referred patient.

Salomone was arrested after the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit conducted a three-month-long investigation.

Illegal running is a third-degree offense punishable by three to five years in state prison.