PEOPLE BEING PEOPLE

A man believed to have drowned in a swimming accident off Long Island last month was stopped for speeding last week in South Carolina, foiling an apparent plot to fake his own death. Raymond Roth, 47, was reported missing off Jones Beach by his 22-year-old son, Jonathan, prompting a massive air-and-sea search operation. After incriminating emails surfaced, Jonathan was charged this week with conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. He pleaded not guilty, claiming he was framed by an uncle. “His dad has put him through hell his entire life,” Jonathan’s girlfriend told reporters. “This is where he ends up just because of his dad.” His father, meanwhile, is still missing, having been released by the South Carolina police after assuring them that he was headed back to New York.