Bedford Auto Body Owner Faces Felony Charges over Cop Car Repairs

The information was provided by State Police and does not indicate a conviction.

The owner of B&B Auto Body shop in Bedford Hills faces grand larceny and insurance fraud charges brought by state and county investigators who allege they uncovered a scheme to defraud the state and the insurance company that covered state police vehicles.

Brian G. Prato was arrested on Oct. 4 by the New York State Police Auto Theft Unit, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office and New York State Dept of Financial Services, assisted by the New York State Police in Somers.

Prato was charged with five felonies and two misdemeanors. 

The allegations of fraud covered several New York State Police vehicles that had been repaired at B and B Auto Body, 211 Railroad Ave. in Bedford, and at Pratow, 201 Railroad Ave.

The investigators conducted interviews, poured through paperwork submitted to insurance companies and brought in independent experts to examine the vehicles.

According to state police:

• Insurance companies were paying for new parts to be used in the repairs of the vehicles as written in estimates submitted by the auto body shops.
• Inspection of the vehicles showed that new parts were not installed as written in paperwork submitted to insurance companies; instead used parts were used for some of the repairs on three New York State Police vehicles.
• In some instances, parts were taken off retired New York State Police vehicles and were used for repairs.  

The charges are third and fourth degree insurance fraud, felonies; fifth degree insurance fraud, a misdemeanor; third and fourth degree attempted grand larceny, felonies; attempted petty larceny, a misdemeanor and first degree scheme to defraud, a felony.

Prato was arraigned by Honorable Erik P. Jacobsen in the Town of Bedford Court Thursday night and released on $10,000 bail. He is scheduled to reappear in the Town of Bedford Court on Oct. 25.