Two New Jersey men face insurance fraud and other charges in connection with allegedly staging an accident to collect $9,000 from an insurer.

Jorge H. Henao, 22, of Somerville, N.J., and Alex Cubero, 21, of Manville, N.Y., face insurance fraud, attempted theft by deception and fictitious report charges, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

Cubero surrendered to authorities Dec. 7, but Henao has yet to do so, as of early today (Dec. 8).

The National Insurance Crime Bureau notified the insurance fraud unit of the prosecutor’s office to a possible fraudulent claim in April.

Henao and Cubero allegedly reported a motor vehicle accident to the Manville Police Department in September 2008, claiming that Henao drove his motor vehicle, insured by Mercury Insurance Co., over Cubero’s motorcycle, causing $9,000 worth of damage, according to investigators.

Henao subsequently reported a property claim to Mercury, prosecutors said.

As Mercury began investigating the claim, it noted several alleged inconsistencies between the reported accident, which occurred at a residence, and actual damage to the motorcycle.

The insurer’s special investigations unit said it determined that Henao lied about how the accident occurred, as the motorcycle was actually damaged weeks earlier during an accident in a parking lot. Henao and Cubero allegedly agreed they would file a claim under Henao’s policy as Cubero’s insurance did not cover the type of damage done to the motorcycle, investigators said.

The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said there is evidence that Cubero’s cousin, Jason Rodriquez, crashed the motorcycle in a parking lot and then it was brought to a third party’s home where Henao allegedly backed over it to file the insurance claim.

Rodriquez is believed to be in Costa Rica, where he lives, following his visit to see his cousin in the United States.

The owner of the home where the supposed accident occurred told the prosecutor’s office that he allowed Cubero to store his motorcycle in his garage and when he returned home one day, a Manville police officer was taking an accident report at his home. The homeowner denied having any knowledge of the allegedly staged accident.