A Millstone, N.J., man was sentenced to three years in state prison after pleading guilty to second-degree conspiracy to commit insurance fraud in a case concerning an auto repair shop insurance scheme.

Robert Buckingham, 55, owner of now closed auto body repair shop Robert Christopher Collision, conspired with his employees to over-bill insurance companies for the repair of two automobiles between April 2005 and July 2006, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

Insurance companies that received false claims were New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co., Travelers Auto Insurance Co. (formerly known as First Trenton Indemnity), Selective Insurance Co. and Mercury Insurance Co., according to the attorney general’s office.

Buckingham and his co-defendant, Paul Failla of Morganville, N.J., billed insurance companies for auto repair work that they failed to complete, according to the attorney general’s office. The defendants also billed insurance companies for new auto repair parts when they utilized old parts, and billed the insurance companies to replace auto parts when they merely repaired the damaged auto parts. Authorities said the defendants enhanced damage to cars brought to the repair facility so they could increase the amount of auto insurance repair claims.

Failla, 56, pleaded guilty to theft by deception in August 2008, officials said.

Robert Christopher Associates Inc. and Robert Buckingham agreed to pay a total of $41,000; exactly $16,195.31 will be applied to restitution owed by Robert Buckingham; exactly $14,804.69 will be forfeited; and the defendants agreed to pay a civil administrative penalty of $10,000.