Florida CFO Jeff Atwater Announces Arrest of Miramar
Man for Staged Auto Accidents Resulting in $200,000 in
Fake Insurance Claims
2/3/2012
Contact: Alexis Lambert
(850) 413-2842
TALLAHASSEE - Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced today the arrest of
Yasser Vega-Martinez, 34, of Miramar for planning and orchestrating three staged auto accidents
over a seven-month period. The staged crashes resulted in over $200,000 in fraudulent insurance
claims.
“These staged accidents are at the heart of the PIP fraud epidemic that is casting a shadow over
Florida’s roads,” CFO Atwater said. “Every Florida family is affected by these fake crashes in
the form of high auto insurance premiums. My office is determined to work toward policy
reforms to curb this costly crime.”
Vega-Martinez allegedly organized and staged three separate accidents from November 2009 to
June 2010. After the crashes took place, he referred the participants to several clinics in the
Miami-Dade area including GMC Rehabilitation Center, AB Diagnostic Center, The
Osteomuscular Rehab Center Corp, Y & H Imaging, Grand Canal Rehab, Justin Medical
Services, Florida Health Professionals Group Corp, Angels Diagnostic Group and C & C
Therapy Center Corp. As a result of these three staged accidents, a total of over $200,000 in
fraudulent insurance claims were submitted to Geico and State Farm insurance companies.
Vega-Martinez was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail awaiting bond. If convicted on all
charges, he faces up to 120 years in prison.
This arrest is part of a continuing crackdown by CFO Atwater’s Division of Insurance Fraud and
the National Insurance Crime Bureau in the fight against auto insurance fraud in Florida. This
case will be prosecuted in the 11th Judicial Circuit under the direction of Miami-Dade State
Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
“In the battle against insurance scam artists who dip into all of our pockets, I am proud to have
the full support of Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and his elite force of Insurance
Fraud investigators,” State Attorney Fernandez Rundle said. “When my prosecutors bring these
insurance fraud criminals into court to face justice, we know that we have the facts and the
evidence on hand to convict. With this effective team of fraud fighters on their trail, these
scammers need to recognize that they should be looking for a new and honest way to earn their
living.”
Anyone with information regarding suspected insurance fraud is asked to call 1-800-378-0445.
Individuals who provide tips can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to
$25,000 for information that directly leads to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud
scheme. The Department of Financial Services to date has awarded almost $250,000 to
approximately 40 citizens as part of its Anti-Fraud Reward Program.
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, a statewide elected official and officer of the Florida
Cabinet, oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Atwater’s priorities include
fighting financial fraud, abuse and waste in government, reducing government spending and
regulatory burdens that chase away businesses, and providing transparency and accountability
in spending.