MINEOLA, N.Y. — A man who enlisted his son to falsely report that he had drowned at Jones Beach as part of an insurance fraud scam — and who was later convicted of unrelated charges that he posed as a police officer to accost a woman — was sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
Raymond Roth apologized before he was sentenced in Nassau County Court Thursday to 2⅓ to seven years .
‘‘Never in my life did I think I would be here,’’ the 49-year-old former businessman from Massapequa said. ‘‘I have a lot of fences to mend; my son is disgusted with me.’’
Roth attracted headlines in the summer of 2012 when his son told authorities that he had drowned. For several days, rescuers searched with no success until he was reportedly seen in Florida. He was spotted again after getting a speeding ticket in South Carolina.
His attorney said much of Roth’s problems stemmed from mental issues, as well as alcohol addiction.
Roth pleaded guilty in the insurance fraud scheme in 2013. Earlier this year, he was convicted of impersonating an officer . Thursday’s sentencing covered both cases.