October 2014
Volume 5 - Issue 4
In September, the
Division of Insurance
Fraud arrested a
massage therapist and
four staged accident
organizers in unrelated
cases. One arrest took
place in Orlando while
the other four occurred
in Miami.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Five Arrested
2
PIP Fraud News
3
Most Wanted
4
Statewide Arrests
6
Statewide Contacts
HEADER
HERE
Four Staged Crash
Organizers,
Massage
Therapist Arrested in Separate Cases
In September, the Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) arrested a massage
therapist and four staged accident organizers / recruiters in unrelated cases.
One arrest took place in Orlando while the other four occurred in Miami.
Madelein Marin Aroche, 41, worked as a massage therapist at New Life Medical
Center in Miami. She was charged with insurance fraud after she fabricated
therapy forms for treatment she never rendered to two patients who had
participated in a staged accident, resulting in nearly $30,000 in fraudulent billing
to Geico Insurance Co.
Renfroe Lorenz Tyson, 46, was arrested in Orlando as the recruiter and
participant in a 2013 staged accident. As a result of this fake crash, more than
$6,600 in fraudulent billings were submitted to Allstate and Geico.
Victor Manuel Hernandez, 32, was arrested in Miami for conspiring with William
Tejeda Mayobanex, 29, to recruit participants for a staged accident in 2011. The
participants were referred to two clinics, A & J Rehabilitation Center and D & J
Rehabilitation Center. As a result of this fake crash, more than $64,000 in
fraudulent billings were submitted to United Auto and York Services.
Mayobanex was arrested by DIF in August.
Vladimir Caro, 38, was arrested in Miami as the organizer of a staged accident
that occurred in 2011. The six participants were referred to two clinics, A & J
Rehabilitation Center and D & J Rehabilitation Center. As a result of this fake
crash, more than $117,000 in fraudulent billings were submitted to Allstate, State
Farm, United Auto and Windhaven.
Sandy Morales Castro, 33, was arrested in Miami as the recruiter in a staged
accident that occurred in 2010. Castro is the eighth subject arrested in this fake
crash, which resulted in more than $46,000 in fraudulent billing was submitted to
Geico, MGA and Progressive.
October 2014
Page 2
PIP FRAUD – In The News
Husband, Wife Charged in WPB Staged Accident Case
The Division of Insurance Fraud arrested Richard Pargas, 49, and his wife, Carmen Torres, 49, in September for their
involvement in a staged accident in 2010. Pargas and Torres were recruited by Alien Moya, 30, who was recently
sentenced in federal court to 58 months in prison as part of the Operation Sledgehammer case. Moya paid $2,000 to
Pargas and Torres for their participation and they went to Karow Chiropractic Center for treatment of the phony injuries.
See a related article on this case at http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-west-palm-staged-crash-fraud20140925,0,2571958.story.
Broward Sheriff’s Office Conducts Insurance Operation
On September 17, more than 30 insurance investigators with instant access to their client data bases set up a command
central at the Tamarac BSO offices and provided insurance information in real time to law enforcement officers
throughout the county. Known as the Fraudulent Insurance Verification Operation, or FIVO, it uses a proactive strategy
against insurance fraud. A total of 460 vehicle stops were conducted which resulted in 563 citations and seven arrests.
The insurance carriers who participated in the operation were Allstate, Assurant, Bristol West, Direct General, Esurance,
Farmers, Gainsco, Geico, Imperial Fire, Infinity, Mapfre, Mercury, MetLife, National General, Nationwide, Security
General, Sentry, State Farm, Travelers, USAA and Windhaven.
The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud estimates that uninsured motorists cost each American family about $950 a year
and Florida ranks fifth highest in the nation. Anyone who presents a fraudulent proof of motor vehicle insurance commits
a third-degree felony under Florida law.
See this article at http://tamaractalk.com/no-auto-insurance-you-may-be-out-of-luck-during-bso-operation-13802.
NICB Welcomes INTERTEL as Strategic Partner
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is pleased to announce that INTERTEL, Inc. (www.intertelinc.com), one of
the original providers of Medical Canvass Investigations, has joined the organization as a strategic partner.
INTERTEL’s Medical Check investigations are designed to canvass medical facilities in a specific geographical area to
verify when and where an insurance claimant may have received medical treatment in order to quickly spot potential
fraud.
“Medical fraud against auto and workers compensation insurers is a major focus of our organization,” said NICB
President and CEO Joe Wehrle. “Partnering with INTERTEL will provide us with vital data that will help uncover potential
fraud against our member companies—fraud that impacts the cost of insurance and healthcare for all Americans.”
See the press release at https://www.nicb.org/newsroom/news-releases/nicb-welcomes-intertel-as-strategic-partner.
Hollywood Police Sgt James Barnick Recognized by NICB for Fighting Fraud
Hollywood Police Sergeant James Barnick was recently recognized by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) for
organizing an insurance enforcement operation. Barnick is a member of the Special Operations/Traffic Homicide Unit.
The partnership with NICB will have long lasting positive effects. NICB recently shared a claim search computer
program that will significantly help the Traffic Hit and Run Unit. The networking that occurred between the insurance
company investigators and the members of Hollywood’s Traffic Homicide Unit has already paid dividends.
See this story at http://hollywoodgazette.com/FL/index.php/home/k2/item/157-hollywood-police-sergeant-james-barnickrecognized-for-fighting-staged-accidents-and-other-insurance-fraud.
Most Wanted Fugitive Captured in Maryland
James William Lloyd, Jr,, who was the Division of Insurance Fraud’s most wanted fugitive in the October 2013 issue of
the PIP Source, was arrested by the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland in September. Lloyd was a
recruiter for a staged accident that occurred in 2007.
Thanks to MCPD Deputy Sharif Hidayat for arresting Lloyd.
The PIP Source
Page 3
Most Wanted: Fugitive
Yasmany Consuegra
Hispanic Male, 34 years old
5’11”, 198 lbs, Brown Eyes, Black Hair
Warrant Information:
Warrant/Case #: W951487502
Felony Warrant Charge: Insurance Fraud / Staged Accident
Details:
The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance
Fraud (DIF) is attempting to locate Yasmany Consuegra in reference to
the outstanding warrant.
In March 2011, Consuegra was arrested by DIF for organizing two
staged accidents in 2010 which resulted in more than $69,000 in
fraudulent claims. Participants were offered as much as $4,000.
Despite requests by DIF to hold Consuegra without bond, he was
released and is believed to have fled to Cuba.
If you know where Consuegra 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/
Miami Chiropractor Convicted, Surrenders License
Chiropractor David Hirschenson, 56, entered a plea in a Miami-Dade County Court in September. Hirschenson
was arrested by the Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) in September 2013 for illegally obtaining crash reports.
Hirschenson worked with a runner who solicited accident victims. Hirschenson also formed an association with a
local radio station employee, and convinced the person to use their employment at the radio
station in order to
request crash reports from various police departments under the media exception. Both the runner and the radio
station employee were arrested by DIF and both cooperated in the investigation against Hirschenson.
In the case against the runner, although he worked at the direction of Hirschenson and obtained the crash reports
used to solicited accident victims, he was told to refer the accident victim to another clinic, Advanced Chiropractic
and Medical Center, Corp, a clinic in North Miami Beach which was not owned by Hirschenson.
Hirschenson was previously arrested in the late 1980s as a result of an investigation involving solicitation and
insurance fraud, and he was placed on probation for two years by the Board of Chiropractic. Hirschenson was
originally licensed in Florida as a chiropractor in 1982, and worked at and operated several clinics over the years,
including Pines Total Health Center in Pembroke Pines and Body and Mind Wellness Center in Coral Gables.
Hirschenson entered a plea of guilty to the 2013 case, was sentenced to five years probation, and also
surrendered his chiropractor’s license to the Department of Health.
October 2014
Page 4
Statewide PIP Arrests – September 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.
Daniel Paradoa, Jr, 25 - staged acct 09/18/12 (passenger) $62,213 - D & J Rehabilitation Center / Health and Wellness Services /
Med Rehab of Florida / Y H Imaging (Direct General / Esurance / Geico) M
Madelein Marin Aroche, 41 - massage therapist - $29,492 - New Life Medical Center (Geico) M
Renfroe Lorenz Tyson, 46 – caused crash 07/13/13 (recruiter / passenger) $6,647 - Florida Chiro and Rehab (Allstate / Geico) O
Maykel Amador Diaz, 34 - staged acct 02/27/12 (driver) $42,640 - Magic Spot Medical Center (Geico) M
Denise Decius, 36 - solicitation - Nu Look Rehab (Geico) B
Dontell Rashad Polite, 23 – sale of fake ins card (Geico) T
Boris Martin Cruz, 32 - staged acct 10/09/10 (driver) $19,241 - Angels Diagnostic Group / Millennium Medical Center (Progressive /
RepWest) M
Darlene Tina Lakes, 44 - false claim - $11,552 (USAA) O
Bienisena Bernadette Dervis, 56 - jump-in 03/15/14 - $4,034 - First Choice Care Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center
(Progressive) T
Mary Louise Daniels, 39 - paper acct 10/09/10 (driver) $12,813 - Massage and Healing Center, LLC (21st Century) T
Eleanor Campbell Dawkins, 59 - jump-in 10/21/13 - $11,932 - (Geico) J
Loreta Linda Cruz, 26 - staged acct 01/27/12 (passenger) $44,365 - Magic Spot Medical Center (Esurance) M
Brian Keson Burnett, 24 - fake ins card (Progressive American) O
Victor Manuel Hernandez, 32 - staged acct 02/27/11 (recruiter) $64,089 - A & J Rehabilitation Center / D & J Rehabilitation Center
(United Auto / York Services) M
Gondeval Sosa Martinez, 34 - staged acct 01/27/12 (driver) $44,365 - Magic Spot Medical Center (Esurance) M
Pedro Palacios-Dumois, 28 - staged acct 05/07/11 (passenger) $88,336 - Blue Medical Network / D & S Chiro Rehab Center / South
Florida Medical Health Center / Torres Rehabilitation Center / Tri R Wellness Center (Imperial / Ocean Harbor / State Farm / United
Auto) M
Migdalia Nogueras, 53 - jump-in 01/20/12 - $6,396 (Progressive) M
Vladimir Caro, 38 - staged acct 08/10/11 (recruiter) $117,307 - A & J Rehabilitation Center / D & J Rehabilitation Center (Allstate /
State Farm / United Auto / Windhaven) M
Herman Benjamin Dawkins, Jr, 31 - false statement in support of jump-in 10/21/13 - $11,932 - (Geico) J
Michael Shaun Young, 30 - false claim - $2,232 (Travelers) O
Angel R Martinez, 48 – fake ins card (Occidental Fire & Casualty) O
Jasmine Depreise Robinson, 22 – staged acct 03/11/11 (passenger) $4,179 - K J Chiropractic / Metro Chiropractic and Wellness
Center (Geico) O
Sandy Morales Castro, 33 – staged acct 03/25/10 (recruiter) $46,208 - B & A Diagnostic / Angels Diagnostic Group / Pentacle
Rehabilitation Center / Sunlight Rehabilitation (Geico / MGA / Progressive) M
Daniel Chaviano, 53 – jump-in 03/10/10 - $11,254 - Healthy Sunrise (Progressive) M
Jose Angel Capella, 27 – staged acct 12/13/11 (driver) $6,000 - Therapy Diagnostic Tech Medical (Geico) J
Carmen N Torres, 49 – staged acct 01/11/10 (passenger) $34,065 - Karow Chiropractic Center (Allstate) W
Ricardo L Pargas, 49 – staged acct 01/11/10 (driver) $34,065 - Karow Chiropractic Center (Allstate) W
Jose Raul Vendrell Gomez, 41 – jump-in 04/02/13 - $14,950 – LERG Medical (United Auto) M
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 Arrests – September 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.
James William Lloyd, Jr, 42 - staged acct 04/10/07 (recruiter) - Broward Care Chiropractic (Allstate / State Farm) B
Sharonlin Newton, 30 – caused crash 07/13/13 (passenger) $6,647 - Florida Chiro and Rehab (Allstate / Geico) O
Sergio Gomez Hernandez, 50 – false statement (MetLife) B
Neshwattie Gaya, 55 – application fraud (Security National) W
Edwin Edgardo Martinez Rodriguez, 46 - staged acct 06/07/12 (driver) $37,469 - One Touch Therapy Center (Direct General /
Infinity / Titan) J
Code – B (Broward) F (Ft Myers) J (Jacksonville) M (Miami) O (Orlando) P (Pensacola) TL (Tallahassee) T (Tampa/St Pete) W (West Palm Beach)
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween
October 2014
Page 6
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 in Miami
and Orlando of four staged accident
organizers and a massage therapist in
separate cases.
On page 3, we feature another fugitive in
Insurance Fraud’s Most Wanted and report
on another chiropractor’s conviction and
license surrender.
As always, we report on PIP Fraud in the
News and the latest PIP-related arrests.
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