December 2014
Volume 5 - Issue 6
The investigation
revealed that Govea
recruited participants
for two staged
accidents, in June and
August of 2012, which
resulted in more than
$167,000 of fraudulent
billings to six different
insurance carriers.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Miami Arrests
2
Most Wanted
3
PIP Fraud News
4
Statewide Arrests
5
Statewide Contacts
HERE
Man Arrested HEADER
in Miami
For Organizing
Staged Accidents
Last month, the Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) arrested Ismael Govea
Morales, 49, for organizing two staged accidents in Miami-Dade County in
2012.
The investigation revealed that Govea recruited participants for two
staged accidents, in June and August of 2012, which resulted in more
than $167,000 of fraudulent billings to six different insurance carriers.
The victim companies included Geico, Kingsway Amigo, Progressive,
State Farm, United Auto and York Services.
Participants were referred to Beyond Care Corp, Med Life Medical
Services, Union Medical Center, Cedar Valley Medical Group, Intensive
Therapy and MS Medical Rehab Corp, all clinics in Miami. One of the
participants in the June 2012 fake crash, Manuel Alvarez, 76, was also
arrested in November.
Govea was previously arrested in January 2013 by DIF for his role in an
elaborate insurance fraud scheme in which he hijacked a Florida
corporation and used it to defraud insurance companies of more than
$726,000 in fraudulent billings.
As previously published in the February 2013 issue of the PIP Source,
Govea was charged with insurance fraud, grand theft, money laundering,
organized scheme to defraud and making false entries on books of
corporation. Govea was charged with a total of 363 counts.
Between January 2011 and June 2011, Govea allegedly used the
corporation Prudential Diagnostic Center to submit billings to 27 different
insurance carriers for MRI services that never took place, resulting in
nearly $440,000 in payments. Prudential Diagnostic Center, a clinic
located in Hialeah, was incorporated in 2008, but closed down in
December 2009. In January 2011, Govea added his name as an officer
to the corporation without knowledge or approval of the true owners, and
opened a mail drop to collect the insurance checks.
December 2014
Page 2
Most Wanted: Fugitive
Mario Rene Ruiz
Hispanic Male, 32 years old
5’6”, 152 lbs, Brown Eyes, Brown Hair
Warrant Information:
Warrant/Case #: 14015152CF10A
Felony Warrant Charge: Insurance Fraud / Staged Accident
Details:
The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance
Fraud, DIF is attempting to locate Mario Rene Ruiz in reference to an
outstanding warrant.
In July 2012, Ruiz participated in a staged accident that resulted in more
than $40,000 in fraudulent claims filed against various insurance
carriers. In November 2014, five persons were arrested in connection
with this staged accident.
Ruiz has lived in Fort Lauderdale but may have returned to his native
country of Honduras.
If you know where Ruiz can be located, please contact the Division of
Insurance Fraud at 1-800-378-0445.
Check out the DFS Most Wanted at http://www.myfloridacfo.com/PressOffice/MostWanted/
Five Arrested in Broward Staged Accident Case
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced the arrest of five individuals on grand theft and insurance fraud charges
for their involvement in a staged accident that resulted in fraudulent Personal Injury Protection (PIP) billings totaling
nearly $40,000.
An investigation by the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud discovered that soon after
participating in a July 2012 staged accident as vehicle passengers, the defendants sought medical treatment at several
South Florida clinics for injuries that did not exist. This led the clinics to file fraudulent claims against three insurance
companies: GEICO, Ocean Harbor and Gainsco.
Those who were arrested include Alfredo Romero, 66, Hollywood; Alice Martinez, 27, Pembroke Pines; Jose Rodas, 33,
Fort Lauderdale; Whitney Lopez, 25, Fort Lauderdale; and Mirna Madrid, 37, Fort Lauderdale. Alfredo Romero, a repeat
PIP offender, was arrested in July 2014 for his role in another Broward County staged accident.
A sixth individual, Mario Ruiz, 32, of Fort Lauderdale is currently wanted in connection with this crime. The cases will be
prosecuted by the Broward State Attorney’s Office, and anyone with information regarding Mario Ruiz’s whereabouts is
asked to contact the Division of Insurance Fraud or the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information about suspected insurance fraud is asked to call 1-800-378-0445. Citizens who provide tips can
remain anonymous. The Department of Financial Services to date has awarded almost $349,000 to nearly 60 citizens as
part of its Anti-Fraud Reward Program. The program rewards individuals up to $25,000 for information that directly leads
to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme.
The PIP Source
Page 3
PIP FRAUD – In The News
DIF Arrests Clinic Owner, Staged Accident Organizers in Jacksonville Cases
In November, the Division of Insurance Fraud IDIF) arrested clinic owner Walter Juarez Lopez, 42, for his role in
organizing staged accidents in 2011, which resulted in more than $32,000 in fraudulent claims. Lopez operated
Therapy Diagnostic Tech Medical. Participants also went to Arlington Rehabilitation Services.
Also arrested last month in separate cases were staged accident organizers Jose Burgos, 40, and Edwin Edgardo
Martinez-Rodriguez, 46, for organizing staged accidents in 2012. The fake crash organized by Burgos involved One
Touch Therapy Center and resulted in more than $31,000 in false claims. The fake crash organized by MartinezRodriguez involved Gate Parkway Diagnostic Center and Wellness Rehab Services, LLC, and resulted in more than
$16,000 in false claims.
The insurance companies victimized in these cases included Direct General, Esurance, Geico, Infinity, Progressive,
State Farm and Travelers.
Convicted Chiropractor Hal Kreitman Arrested For Swimming With Alligators
Convicted chiropractor Hal Kreitman, 51, was arrested in November by Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) officers in a sting operation on a felony conservation charge.
"What really concerns us is that he was charging money to have people come out and actually participate in this illegal
activity," FWC Officer Jorge Pino, an agency spokesman, said Thursday.
This latest felony charge is just another problem for Kreitman. In October, he was sentence to eight years in federal
prison for his role in Operation Sledgehammer.
See
the
full
article
at
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2014/10/
hal_kreitman_the_haligator_arrested_for_swimming_with_alligators.php and a related article at http://
blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2014/10/hal_kreitman_a_bodybuilding_fetish-partying_exchiropractor_finds_new_life_swimming_with_wild_alliga.php.
DIF Arrests Staged Accident Organizer in Orlando Case
In November, the Division of Insurance Fraud arrested staged accident organizer Jean Severe, 41, for a fake crash that
occurred in 2013, resulting in more than $6,000 in false claims filed with Allstate and Geico. Participants were sent to
Florida Chiro & Rehab Center for treatment.
December 2014
Page 4
Statewide PIP Arrests – November 2014
Each issue will provide a list of PIP arrests made by the offices throughout the State. Along with each defendant’s name
and age, we will include: the type of scheme involved; the fraud dollar amount; clinic name(s); victim insurance company
name(s); and the arresting office. If you need additional details on any of these arrests, please contact Capt. Smith.
Sharon Denise Allen, 38 - fake ins card (Peak Property & Casualty / State Farm) T
Rene Torralba, 49 - staged acct 01/31/12 (driver) $13,549 - Injury Rehabilitation Center (Allstate) O
Dayan Andres Vazquez, 29 - staged acct 01/31/12 (passenger) $13,549 - Injury Rehabilitation Center (Allstate) O
Richard Vazquez Paulino, 24 - staged acct 01/31/12 (passenger) $13,549 - Injury Rehabilitation Center (Allstate) O
Marcelino Martinez Serrano, 27 - staged acct 07/22/12 (driver) $31,101 - One Touch Therapy Center (Direct General / Esurance /
Geico) J
Jose A Burgos, 40 - staged acct 07/22/12 (recruiter) $31,101 - One Touch Therapy Center (Direct General / Esurance / Geico) J
Wendell Beck, 28 - PIP patient / false claim - $35,000 (Progressive) M
Jean R Severe, 41 - staged acct 07/16/13 (recruiter) $6,054 - Florida Chiro & Rehab Center (Allstate / Geico) O
Jose Rodas, 33 - staged acct 07/16/12 (passenger) $13,260 - Premier Health & Wellness Center (Ocean Harbor) B
Walter Juarez Lopez, 42 - clinic owner / staged accts 12/13/11 and 12/30/11 (recruiter) $32,832 - Arlington Rehabilitation Services /
Therapy Diagnostic, Tech Medical (Infinity / State Farm / Travelers) J
Ismael Govea Morales, 49 - staged acct 06/06/12 (recruiter) $70,615 - Beyond Care Corp / Med Life Medical Services / Union
Medical Center (Geico / Kingsway Amigo / Progressive / State Farm / United Auto) M
Ismael Govea Morales, 49 - staged acct 08/24/12 (recruiter) $96,923 - Cedar Valley Medical Group / Intensive Therapy / MS Medical
Rehab Corp (United Auto / York) M
Karen Lorraine Carter, 37 - staged acct 07/22/12 (passenger) $31,101 - One Touch Therapy Center (Direct General / Esurance /
Geico) J
Yuniersy Gort Valdes, 31 - staged acct 10/09/10 (passenger) $15,425 - Angels Diagnostic Center / Millennium Medical Center
(Progressive / RepWest) M
Edwin Edgardo Martinez-Rodriguez, 46 - staged acct 05/22/12 (recruiter) $16,772 - Gate Parkway Diagnostic Center / Wellness
Rehab Services, LLC (Progressive) J
Whitney Lopez, 25 - staged acct 07/16/12 (passenger) $4,170 - Synergy Medical Wellness (Gainsco) B
Randolph J Brookes, 41 - fake ins card (Geico) O
Manuel Alvarez, 76 - staged acct 06/06/12 (passenger) $70,615 - Beyond Care / Med Life Medical / Union Medical (Geico / Kingsway
Amigo / Progressive / State Farm / United Auto) M
Kelly J Corbitt, 33 - application fraud / fake ins card (MetLife) T
Wanda Yvette Smith, 41 - fake ins card (Ocean Harbor) M
Alice Beatriz Martinez, 27 - staged acct 07/16/12 (passenger) $5,483 - Premier Health & Wellness Center (Ocean Harbor) B
Mirna Madrid, 37 - staged acct 07/16/12 (passenger) $4,328 - Premier Health & Wellness Center (Geico) B
Yalily Clavero Ruiz, 34 - clinic employee - $39,249 - D & J Rehabilitation Center (Esurance / Geico) M
Alfredo Romero, 66 - staged acct 07/16/12 (recruiter) $24,515 - Premier Health & Wellness Center (Gainsco / Geico / Ocean Harbor)
B
Tiffany S. Sanders, 23 - fake ins card (Explorer) O
Elvin Vincente Martinez, 55 - staged acct 05/04/12 (passenger) $19,749 - Gate Parkway Diagnostic Center / One Touch Therapy
Center (Direct General / Geico / Progressive) J
Arrested in July 2014
Roblero Audelia E Cifuentes, 38 - fake ins card (Ocean Harbor) W
Code – B (Broward) F (Ft Myers) J (Jacksonville) M (Miami) O (Orlando) P (Pensacola) TL (Tallahassee) T (Tampa/St Pete) W (West Palm Beach)
The PIP Source
Page 5
Statewide PIP Contacts
PANHANDLE REGION
Counties: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf,
Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty,
Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton,
Washington
Pensacola Field Office - 850.453.7802
Capt. David LINDSAY
Tallahassee Field Office - 850.413.3115
Lt. Ernie STOLL
NORTH REGION
Counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Citrus, Clay, Columbia,
Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Levy, Marion,
Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Union
Jacksonville Field Office - 904.798.5802
Capt. Brian McCOY
Lt. Kevin JONES
WEST CENTRAL REGION
Counties: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry,
Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk,
Sarasota
Tampa Field Office - 813.972.8602
Major Michael BYRNE
Capt. VACANT
Lt. Carlos ROSARIO
Fort Myers Field Office - 239.278.7527
Lt. Mark FRITZ
Copy goes her.
Editor’s
Corner
On page 1, we cover the arrests of a staged
accident organizer in Miami. This was not his
first venture into insurance fraud.
On page 2, we feature another fugitive in
Insurance Fraud’s Most Wanted.
As always, we report on PIP Fraud in the News
and the latest PIP-related arrests.
Enjoy the holidays and have a safe and happy
New Year!
EAST CENTRAL REGION
Counties: Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia
Orlando Field Office - 407.835.4402
Lt. Laquanda GREEN
Lt. John SAVINO
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Counties: Broward, Highlands, Indian River, Martin,
Okeechobee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie
Plantation Field Office - 954.958.5402
Capt. Rafael DELGAGO
Lt. Bill LEE
West Palm Beach Field Office - 561.837.5601
Major Glen HUGHES
Lt. Evangelina BROOKS
SOUTH REGION
Counties: Dade, Monroe
Miami Field Office - 305.536.0302
Capt. Steven SMITH
Lt. Violeta SERRANO
Lt. Stanley JEAN-FELIX
Lt. Missael DIAZ
South Florida Major Medical Fraud Task Force
Supervisory Special Agent Fred Burkhardt 847.544.7141
Central Florida Major Medical Fraud Task Force
Supervisory Special Agent Jose Olivier 813.558.6387