KINGSTON – A Hyde Park man has pled guilty to a felony of insurance fraud in the fourth degree for arranging to have his pickup truck stolen and then placing a fraudulent claim with his insurance company.

Mark Winkler entered the plea in Ulster County Court in Kingston.

The case was investigated jointly by the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office and the state Insurance Fraud Bureau.

DA Holley Carnright noted this is the second felony prosecution this year handled jointly by the two agencies. Just days ago, three people pled guilty to torching a vehicle so the owner could collect insurance money.