Man who faked own death for insurance cash is arrested for impersonating a police officer to lure women into his van

• Raymond Roth, 48, was charged with attempted kidnap on Tuesday after threatening to arrest women on at least two occasions if they didn't get into his van
  
• Man admitted to faking his own death last July during swim with son in Long Island, New York
  
• Stopped by police for speeding four days later in South Carolina

By Steve Robson and Helen Pow

PUBLISHED: 23:02 EST, 27 March 2013 | UPDATED: 23:02 EST, 27 March 2013

A New York man who admitted he faked his own death for insurance money has been arrested for pretending to be a police officer in an effort to lure women into his van.

Raymond Roth, 48 of Long Island, was taken into custody on Tuesday after he allegedly pulled the stunt at least twice in the past month.

In the first incident, on March 16, Roth allegedly pulled up next to a woman in Freeport, claimed he was a police officer and then demanded she get into the white van he was driving.

When the woman refused and ran away, Roth followed her for a short distance before fleeing the scene, police said.

Arrested: Raymond Roth, pictured, was caught on surveillance video after trying to kidnap women by impersonating a cop

On March 21, less than a week later, Roth allegedly pulled up next to another woman in the same area and repeatedly yelled at her to get into his vehicle.

The woman ignored him and kept walking, but Roth threatened to arrest her if she didn't do as he ordered, police said.

She ran into a nearby check cashing store and asked the staff to lock Roth, who had followed her on foot, outside.

The man can be seen on surveillance video demanding the employees open the security door.

Instead they called 911, but Roth ran away before police arrived.

He was later tracked down by officers who charged him with criminal impersonation, attempted kidnapping and attempted burglary.

Arrested: Raymond Roth is escorted by law enforcement officers after being arrested after he faked his own drowning at a New York beach in a scheme to collect on a life insurance policy

On March 22, Roth admitted faking his own death after he was caught out when he got a speeding ticket four days later.

Roth had been reported missing in the waters off Jones Beach, New York, while swimming in July last year.

Officers combed the water near the beach during a massive rescue effort but, days later and 730 miles away from home, Roth was stopped by police for speeding in South Carolina.

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced last week that he has now admitted a conspiracy charge in exchange for a sentence of 90 days in jail and five years' probation.

He also must pay restitution for the cost of the search -- $27,445 to the U.S. Coast Guard and $9,109 to the Nassau County Police Department.

Raymond Roth wanted his wife and son to collect at least $410,000 in life insurance benefits while he started a new life in Florida, Rice said.

Scrum: He was arrested at a hospital where he was receiving psychiatric treatment for depression

Charges: Roth was arraigned on charges of insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud and falsely reporting an incident

The day before Roth was pulled over, his wife, Evana, showed authorities e-mails she had discovered that appeared to detail a plan between him and his son to fake his death.

State police arrested both men in last August on charges of insurance fraud, conspiracy and filing a false report.

Evana Roth told CNN in August she thought her husband devised the plan after he was fired from his job in July. Her attorney, Lenard Leeds, said she had been unaware of the ruse before she uncovered the e-mail correspondence.

The son's case is still pending, the district attorney said. Jonathan Roth's attorney, Joey Jackson, defended his client after his arrest, saying, 'There was abuse here, manipulation here, coercion here' from the father.

But Raymond Roth's attorney, Brian Davis, denied in August that Roth had involved his son in the scheme.

'Scheme': Roth's son Jonathan, left, and his attorney Joey Jackson after his appearance in court on charges that he helped his father to fake his death. Jonathan claims he was coerced

'We had issues concerning the facts people had whether (Roth) had an agreement with his son,' Davis told CNN last Thursday. 'He's admitted it now. He's accepted responsibility.'

Davis added that his client has been under treatment for bipolar disorder in recent weeks.

During plea negotiations, Raymond Roth asked the district attorney's office not to give his son jail time, Davis said.

On the advice of both their attorneys, father and son have not been in contact since their arrests, Davis said.

'He would like to straighten things out with (Jonathan) when the time comes,' he said.

Days after his disappearance, Raymond Roth was reported to be at a resort in Orlando, Florida and on August 2, he was stopped driving at 90 mph in Santee, South Carolina.

Cost: Tens of thousands of dollars were wasted searching for Roth at Jones Beach, Long Island

Found: Roth left his shoes, wallet, clothing and phone on the beach when attempting to fake his death

Caught: More than a week after his disappearance, Roth was pulled over for speeding in South Carolina

When police ran his name, they saw he was listed as missing, but Roth said he was driving back to New York and the officer let him continue.

But he failed to show up to a scheduled meeting with police and his attorney claimed he had in fact been admitted to hospital with depression.

Jonathan Roth, 22, is free on $10,000 bond. He has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, filing a false report and other charges.

Court papers show he 'was fully aware that his father never walked into the water and had in fact driven off in his own personal vehicle'.. He faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.

The younger Roth's attorney, Joey Jackson, said his client and his father had a 'strained' relationship and claims he was coerced into going along with the scheme - which Davis has denied.

He also claimed he feared for his life after his father left him a threatening voicemail when the scandal went public.

Hurt: Roth's wife Evana said she has received numerous phone calls from him despite court order of protection

Up for sale: Roth had put his Long Island home on the market days before he faked his death and was allegedly calling about the sale

'Listen, tough guy. You say you’ve been to the Marines and you can kill and everything else. When I get back, you are gonna do just that. One of us is going to die,' Mr Roth allegedly said.

Raymond Roth's wife, Evana, said her husband had not told her of the scheme, and handed over emails she found on the family computer that implicated her stepson.

In one dated the day before he vanished, the elder Roth told his son to contact him at an Orlando resort to update him on developments following his disappearance.

'This is a terrible nightmare that I just want to wake up from,’ said 43-year-old Evana. 'Why did he do this? I think I’m just numb.’

Raymond Roth had put the family's home up for sale just days before he vanished, and Evana Roth also said her husband had recently been fired from his job in New York City.

Police estimated that an air and sea search for Roth cost tens of thousands of dollars.