June 2013
Volume 3 - Issue 12
“Together with our
federal and state law
enforcement, regulatory
and private industry
partners, we will find you,
we will prosecute you,
and we will take away
your ill-gotten money,
and you will face
substantial prison time.”
- U.S. Attorney Wilfredo A. Ferrer
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Sledgehammer
2
PIP Fraud News
3
Most Wanted
4
Statewide Arrests
7
Statewide Contacts
HEADER HERE
33 Charged
in Latest Operation
Sledgehammer Indictments
Operation Sledgehammer continued in its attack on insurance fraud in Palm Beach
County with the latest indictments from the U.S. Attorney’s office against 33 individuals,
including chiropractors Aaron Freedlander, 50, Kenneth Karow, 53, Lazaro Rodriguez,
58, and Lawrence Schechtman, 45. Twenty-eight subjects total were arrested while five
others are believed to be in Cuba and remain fugitives. The case involves fraudulent
activity between October 2006 and December 2012, including staged accidents,
unlicensed clinics, insurance fraud, mail fraud and money laundering.
“These staged accidents are the lifeblood of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) fraud, which
has cast a shadow over Florida’s roads,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater said.
“Every Florida family is negatively affected by these fake crashes in the form of high auto
insurance premiums. I am proud of the collaborative efforts across local, state and
federal agencies to put these criminals behind bars.”
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “Staged accident automobile insurance fraud is
not a victimless crime. Rather, it affects every driver in Florida, as fraud inevitably causes
our insurance rates to rise. Worse still, staged accidents make our streets more
dangerous and distract police from answering legitimate distress calls. We hope that this
continued operation will send a message to those who seek to line their pockets through
fraud. Together with our federal and state law enforcement, regulatory and private
industry partners, we will find you, we will prosecute you, we will take away your ill-gotten
money, and you will face substantial prison time.”
A list of clinics identified in Operation Sledgehammer includes Chiropractic Office of
South Florida; Elite Rehabilitation Services Center; Febre’s Medical Center; Forest Hill
Rehabilitation Medical Center; Franco Chiropractor Center; Greenacres Family
Chiropractic and Wellness Center; HealthCare’R Us; Johnson Rehabilitation Center;
Karow Chiropractic Center; Mango Massage Therapy Center; New York Medical Rehab
Center; Progressive Rehab Treatments Corp; Sunshine Therapy & Medical Center;
Ultimate Rehabilitation Services; and Universal Rehab Med Group, all in Palm Beach
County; and 36 Rehabilitation Center; Eli Medical Center; Florida Therapy and Rehab
Center; N&G Medical Center; Omega Medical Diagnostic and V&H Medical Center, all
located in Miami-Dade county.
To date, 92 people have been charged in the Operation Sledgehammer scheme with
federal charges filed against 56 defendants by the U.S. Attorney's Office and state
charges filed against 36 defendants by the Palm Beach State Attorney's Office.
See the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fls/
PressReleases/130516-02.html and this article by Paula McMahon at the Sun-Sentinel at
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-05-16/news/fl-staged-accident-fraud-20130516_1_insurancefraud-false-insurance-claims-insurance-companies.
The PIP Source
Page 2
PIP FRAUD – In The News
Lee County Chiropractor Arrested for Patient Brokering and Insurance Fraud
The Division of Insurance Fraud arrested chiropractor David Greydinger, 41, last month after an undercover investigation
into his clinic, DISA Med dba MYO Health Clinic, located in Fort Myers. The investigation revealed that Greydinger paid
an undercover patient to continue treating at his clinic. Greydinger was charged with patient brokering and insurance
fraud, as he submitted claims to Nationwide Insurance for treatment not provided. Nationwide assisted DIF in the case.
Greydinger was first licensed as a chiropractor in 2005, the same year that he opened DISA Med.
Check out this link at NBC2 in Ft Myers - http://www.nbc-2.com/story/22262666/fort-myers-chiropractor-arrested-forfraud.
Orlando Recruiter Facing Federal Trial in PIP Fraud Scheme
Although Junel Basile's job title was "driver," what he really did for Metro Chiropractic & Wellness Center, federal
authorities say, was recruit people to participate in staged car accidents and meticulously plan the crashes.
In a 17-page criminal complaint filed against Basile earlier this year, an FBI agent said clinics usually try to hide the role
of "runners" - those who solicit people to participate in staged accidents - by employing them as "drivers." Basile
reportedly would brief his recruits how the crash would occur, which driver would be at fault, the number of passengers
he wanted in each car and what to tell the police. The recruits, some of whom were promised up to $1,500 each for their
involvement, had to then seek treatment at Metro Chiropractic & Wellness Center, which paid Basile more than $140,000
in 2011 in his role as "driver."
The case, being prosecuted in the United States District Court in Orlando, is an example of the kind of insurance fraud
that costs Americans billions of dollars each year.
Read the article by the Orlando Sentinel’s Amy Pavuk at http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-06-01/news/os-stagedaccidents-fraud-arrests-20130601_1_staged-accidents-insurance-fraud-car-accidents.
Hillsborough County PIP Reforms Appear To Be Working
Auto insurance fraud, by most measures, is more widespread in Florida than in any other state.
Hillsborough County has had some success in implementing local reform. Following the NICB report putting Tampa
second in the nation in staged accidents, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner went after fraudulent clinics
by targeting those that received the vast majority of their revenue from Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurers.
With help from county attorneys, detectives, and the NICB, Beckner sponsored a county ordinance targeting clinics that
received over 90 percent or $200,000 in gross income from PIP payouts. The ordinance requires such clinics to obtain a
license from the county and identify and provide background information on all employees, including a managing
physician.
Later, the NICB reported that questionable claims on PIP insurance in Hillsborough County had dropped to near zero.
Writing in the Tampa Bay Times, Beckner said that 79 suspected fraudulent clinics closed within a month of the
ordinance’s passage.
He encouraged other counties to adopt similar measures.
See the entire article at http://www.insurancefraud.org/IFNS-detail.htm?key=16461.
Additional Links for Operation Sledgehammer
Here are several additional links to coverage of the Operation Slegehammer takedown.
http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/insurance-fraud-ring-busted-operation-sledgehammer-leads-to-dozens-ofarrests#ixzz2TYR2btP3
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-05-16/news/fl-staged-accident-fraud-20130516_1_insurance-fraud-false-insuranceclaims-insurance-companies
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/crime-law/auto-accident-fraud-sweep-arrests-26-in-palm-beach/nXszT/
June 2013
Page 3
Most Wanted: Fugitive
Manuel Hernandez
AKA: Manuel Garcia Hernandez
White Male, 56 years old
5’10”, 210 lbs, Brown Eyes, Gray Hair
Warrant Information:
Warrant/Case #: 2009-CF031293
Felony Warrant Charge: Staged Motor Vehicle Crash
Details:
The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance
Fraud is attempting to locate Manuel Hernandez.
Manuel Hernandez committed acts of Insurance Fraud resulting from
knowingly participating in an intentional staged motor vehicle crash on
March 2, 2009 for the purpose of claiming personal injury protection
(PIP) benefits. On March 2, 2009, a traffic crash occurred involving the
subject as a participant of the “not at fault” vehicle. After the crash,
Hernandez faked injuries for treatment at a chiropractic clinic also
involved with the submission of the fraudulent claims.
If you know where Hernandez 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 Orlando Fraud Scheme
The Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) arrested five persons for charges that included insurance fraud, patient brokering
and organized scheme to defraud in two cases involving fraudulent claims at Colonial Rehabilitation, a clinic located in
Orlando, Florida.
Arrested were clinic owner Joaquin Perez, 46, chiropractor Ricardo Ramos, 37, massage therapists Jazmyn Martha
Aguilar Lastres, 24, and Dayleann Marie Vallejo, 28, and Felix Bonilla, 40. An investigation by DIF showed that patients
who went to the clinic following real accidents were either offered money to treat and signed blank forms for treatment
they did not receive, or were billed for treatment they did not receive.
Aguilar and Vallejo were allegedly used as straw owners to obtain a certificate of exemption from the Agency for Health
Care Administration (AHCA) to operate the clinic, which was allegedly owned by Joaquin Perez, who is not a licensed
health care practitioner.
Perez, Ramos and Aguilar were charged in two cases, while Vallejo and Bonilla were charged in one.
Colonial Rehabilitation was incorporated in August 2011 under Vallejo’s name and switched to Aguilar’s name in March
2012.
Ramos was first licensed as a chiropractor in Florida in 2002 and operated his own clinic, Solar Injury Center, located in
Tampa.
The insurance companies defrauded in these cases were First Acceptance and Hartford.
June 2013
Page 4
Statewide PIP Arrests – May 2013
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.
Daniele Michelle Solone, 26 – staged acct 06/04/12 (driver) $43,018 - Gate Parkway Diagnostic Center / One Touch Therapy Center
(Kemper / Progressive) J
Jean Fricot Moise, 32 – fake ins card (Ocean Harbor) W
Christian David Herrera Coutin, 23 – staged acct 10/14/12 (driver) $32,725 - K & J Medical Center (Ocean Harbor) M
Rose Edwards, 53 – unlicensed therapist - Stuber Chiropractic and Acupuncture (Cigna / Travelers) O
Risley Perez, 36 – staged acct 03/25/10 (passenger) $46,208 - B & A Diagnostic / Pentacle Rehabilitation Center / Sunlight
Rehabilitation (Geico / MGA / Progressive) M
David Greydinger, 41 – chiropractor – patient brokering / fraud - $7,785 - DISA Med (Nationwide) F
Maria Victoria Castro, 29 – staged acct 03/12/12 (passenger) $61,729 - All Future Medical Center / Benefica Health Center (United
Auto) M
Oscar Loarca, 58 – jump-in - $12,070 - Lake Worth Physical Medicine (Gainsco) W
Dyanne Lashell Lundy, 22 – jump-in - $7,887 - (Geico) J
Ulises Betancourt Diaz, 39 – application fraud (Geico) M
Ernesto Marrero, 44 – staged acct 07/12/11 (passenger) $154,407 - Centinel Medical Center / HET Medical / Rosenberg Clinic (21st
Century / Allstate / Geico / State Farm) M
Rosa Gonzalez Cardenas, 42 - clinic employee - $46,465 - Well-Care Rehab Services (Titan) M
Madelaine Osoria, 41 - clinic owner - $46,465 - Well-Care Rehab Services (Titan) M
Greenly Rodriguez Fernandini, 29 - massage therapist - $46,465 - Well-Care Rehab Services (Titan) M
Greenly Rodriguez Fernandini, 29 - massage therapist - $11,905 - Well-Care Rehab Services (Geico) M
Nikki Juanell Barrett, 37 – statement in support of jump-in - $66,468 - (Geico / State Farm) T
Frank Hugh Donal Arnold, 32 – fake ins card (Infinity) W
Alexander Garcia, 44 – staged acct 06/04/12 (driver) $41,465 - Gate Parkway Diagnostic Center / One Touch Therapy Center
(Kemper) J
Wilfredo Sauceda, 33 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Dayleann Marie Vallejo, 28 – massage therapist / organized scheme to defraud – $24,866 - Colonial Rehabilitation (Hartford) O
Nelson Martinez, 47 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Abner Llenderrozo, 39 – massage therapist – mail fraud W
Iris Roca, 41 – mail fraud W
Maykel Marquez Morejon, 31 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Elias Sebastian Munguia, 41 – mail fraud W
Aleida Prado Capdevila, 61 – mail fraud W
Oscar Montiel Martinez, 33 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Yenisleydi Ramos, 26 – massage therapist - mail fraud / money laundering W
Helenne Vazquez, 30 – mail fraud W
Amaury Tomas Contino, 29 – mail fraud W
Sircy Santos Sacerio, 30 – mail fraud 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 Arrests – May 2013
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.
Noelia Marichal, 52 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Yanet Hernandez Marichal, 26 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Teresita Mena, 52 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Luis Ivan Hernandez, 39 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Maria Teresa Testa Baceiro, 29 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Daviel Martinez Castro, 26 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Aaron Freedlander, 50 – chiropractor – mail fraud W
Hal Kreitman, 49 – chiropractor – mail fraud W
Juan Francisco Avon, 61 – mail fraud W
Kenneth Gerald Karow, 53 – chiropractor - mail fraud / money laundering W
Olinda Rodriguez, 39 – massage therapist - mail fraud W
Ninette Maranillo, 26 – staged acct 07/12/11 (passenger) $132,767 – Centinel / Medical Inc / Rosenberg (21st Century / Geico /
State Farm) M
Jazmyn Martha Aguilar Lastres, 24 – massage therapist / organized scheme to defraud - $24,866 – Colonial Rehabilitation
(Hartford) O
Yeisy Chousa, 31 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Oreste Rolando Chavez, 41 – massage therapist mail fraud / money laundering W
Alien Moya, 28 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Joel Simon Ramirez, 28 – mail fraud / money laundering W
Lawrence Eric Schechtman, 45 – chiropractor – mail fraud W
Jessica Joyce Longs, 25 – fake ins card (Seminole Casualty) T
Ricardo Ramos, 37 – chiropractor / organized scheme to defraud - $24,866 – Colonial Rehabilitation (Hartford) O
Joaquin Perez, 46 – unlicensed clinic owner / organized scheme to defraud - $24,866 – Colonial Rehabilitation (Hartford) O
Deserae Denise Brooker, 23 – application fraud / identity theft - $21,478 - (Geico) O
Noylan Barreto, 20 – staged acct 03/28/12 (driver) $9,059 – Indian Rehabilitation Center (Geico) J
Kassem Kazim Kaim, 41 – staged acct 10/16/10 (driver) $62,590 – Chiro-Med Plus Chiropractic (Mapfre / Progressive / Sentry) J
Valerie Trenise Farrior Brown, 42 – fake ins card (Esurance) T
Nora M Lopez, 52 – statement in support of jump-in - $12,070 - Lake Worth Physical Medicine (Gainsco) W
Jazmyn Martha Aguilar Lastres, 24 – massage therapist / straw owner / insurance fraud – $10,000 - Colonial Rehabilitation (First
Acceptance) O
Joaquin Perez, 46 – unlicensed clinic owner / insurance fraud – $10,000 - Colonial Rehabilitation (First Acceptance) O
Carlos Manuel Lopez, 37 – staged acct 06/25/11 (recruiter) $16,524 – B & A Diagnostic / Flamingo Health Corp (Allstate) M
Carlos Manuel Lopez, 37 – staged acct 07/15/11 (recruiter) $60,062 - Flamingo Health Corp / Noba Rehabilitation Center / Rivero
Diagnostic Center / Y & H Imaging (Allstate / Geico) M
Carlos Manuel Lopez, 37 – staged acct 08/08/11 (recruiter) $50,481 – Flamingo Health Corp / Omega Medical Diagnostic / Y & H
Imaging (Geico / State Farm) 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 6
Statewide PIP Arrests – May 2013
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.
Edgar Constantino Lacayo, 42 – staged acct 06/14/11 (recruiter) $27,366 - (State Farm) B
Felix Bonilla, 40 – patient brokering (First Acceptance) O
Ricardo Ramos, 37 – chiropractor / insurance fraud - $10,000 - Colonial Rehabilitation (First Acceptance) O
Joseph Allen Collmar, 48 – massage therapist / insurance fraud – $6,614 - Bedford Medical Chiropractic (First Acceptance) O
Alisha Chantell Longie, 23 – fake ins card (MGA / Seminole Casualty) T
Livan Gallo Martinez, 31 – staged acct 10/23/12 (recruiter) $41,849 – All X-Ray Diagnostic Services / Murphy Health Center / Tapia’s
Rehabilitation Center / YH Imaging (Geico / Kingsway Amigo) M
Latonya Nakole Brown, 34 – fake ins card (Workmen’s Auto) T
Leslie Ann Lowe, 47 – staged acct 05/04/11 (passenger) $25,905 - KJ Chiropractic (Geico) O
Arrested in Apr 2013
Edilberto Paz Amaya, 33 – Tampa Rehab Center (Farmers / Nationwide) T
Code – B (Broward) F (Ft Myers) J (Jacksonville) M (Miami) O (Orlando) P (Pensacola) TL (Tallahassee) T (Tampa/St Pete) W (West Palm Beach)
June 2013
Page 7
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
Tallahassee Field Office - 850.413.3115
Lt. Ernie STOLL
Pensacola Field Office - 850.453.7802
Capt. David LINDSAY
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
Capt. Michael BYRNE
Lt. Carlos ROSARIO
Lt. Darrell WILSON
Fort Myers Field Office - 239.278.7527
Lt. Mark FRITZ
EAST CENTRAL REGION
Counties: Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia
Orlando Field Office - 407.835.4402
Capt. Glen HUGHES
Acting Lt. Laquanda GREEN
Lt. Paul MEYERS
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Counties: Broward, Highlands, Indian River, Martin,
Okeechobee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie
Plantation Field Office - 954.958.5402
Capt. John DYGON
Lt. Bill LEE
West Palm Beach Field Office - 561.837.5601
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. Rafael DELGADO
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
Copy goes her.
Editor’s
Corner
On page 1, we cover the latest arrests in
Operation Sledgehammer.
On page 2, we present PIP Fraud in the News,
including the arrest of a Ft. Myers
chiropractor.
On page 3, we feature another fugitive in
Insurance Fraud’s Most Wanted.
As always, we report on the latest PIP-related
arrests.
HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE
PROTECT YOUR HOME BASE
BE PREPARED, BE SAFE