A 12-year veteran of the Asbury Park police force loses his job, and he and his sister will try to avoid time behind bars for defrauding the Department's health insurance provider out of almost $200,000.

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In a Monmouth County courtroom in Freehold Tuesday, Alix Antoine, 38, of Neptune Township, and Patricia Louis, 44, of Clifton, pleaded guilty to a third-degree charge of insurance fraud.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni's office says that at their scheduled June 9 sentencing, both will apply for the Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program.

PTI is generally offered to first-time offenders, and is aimed at rehabilitation instead of punishment. Successful completion can mean no criminal record, eliminates many court costs, and frees up space on the court calendar.

Investigators asserted that between 2009 and 2013, Antoine claimed Louis as his spouse, in order to obtain coverage for her and her son through Horizon Blue Cross-Blue Shield.

Antoine had been suspended since the charges were filed in June 2015. He met the terms of $150,000 full bail, and Louis was released on her own recognizance. They were indicted a year later.

The indictment listed four counts against Antoine - second-degree counts of official misconduct, conspiracy to commit official misconduct, and insurance fraud, and a third-degree charge of tampering wiht public records.

Antoine and Louis are required to pay $189,645.84 in restitution to Horizon Blue Cross-Blue Shield. Antoine was ordered to forfeit his position, and is disqualified form holding public office or employment in New Jersey.

County Senior Litigation Counsel John Loughrey and Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Lipp directed the State's case. Antoine was represented by Freehold attorney Richard Incremona. Louis was represented by Englewood Cliffs attorney Mitchell Ignatoff.

The Prosecutor's Office pegs the number of police officers prosecuted since 2011 at 14. Gramiccioni initiated a Corruption Tip Line in November 2012, soliciting help from residents to root out corruption, misconduct and fraud in local government agencies.

E-mailed tips should include the term "Corruption/Misconduct Tip" in the subject line. The phone line is 855-7-UNJUST (855-786-5878).

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