The PIP Source
Volume 2 - Issue 2
“Unscrupulous
individuals have
taken advantage of
the no-fault system
for too long, and
honest drivers are
paying the price.”
- CFO Jeff Atwater
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
2
3
CFO Jeff Atwater
5
A Conversation
with Dr. Krakow
7
8
Statewide Arrests
Join The Fight!
PIP Fraud in the
News
Statewide Contacts
HEADER HERE
CFO Delivers Fraud Message
During the last week of June, CFO Jeff Atwater attended the Auto
Insurance Fraud Summit in Orlando. The summit was held in an
area known for rising fraudulent activity - the Pine Hills neighborhood.
Three area legislators - Representative Bryan Nelson, Senator Gary
Siplin and Representative Geraldine Thompson - addressed the
audience and heard stories from some of the more than 100 Orlando
residents about how this fraudulent activity has impacted their ability
to find and obtain auto insurance at a reasonable rate.
Auto insurance fraud is hardly isolated to the Orlando area. The NICB
currently ranks Florida number one in the country for staged
accidents, and three Florida cities rank in the nation’s top five: Tampa
(2), Miami (3) and Orlando (4). As a result, the Insurance Information Institute found that
the average two-car Florida family is paying about $100 in extra premiums annually which amounts to a fraud tax - because insurers are forced to spread the costs
associated with fraud across all of their insured drivers.
“Unscrupulous individuals have taken advantage of the no-fault system for too long, and
honest drivers are paying the price,” said CFO Jeff Atwater. “Forums, such as this one,
give us the opportunity to work with our partners to brainstorm and develop new ways to
combat this pervasive crime and give Floridians the relief they deserve on their auto
insurance premiums.”
“Today’s summit was a unique opportunity to inform residents about how rampant auto
insurance fraud affects the affordability and availability of auto insurance, while also
giving them a platform to educate us about how they’ve been impacted by this criminal
activity,” said Ron Poindexter, area director of operations for the NICB’s Southeast
office. “Auto insurance fraud is a serious problem in Florida, and it is hurting all
consumers.”
CFO Atwater was the keynote speaker at the 2011 Latin
American Association of Insurance Agencies (LAAIA)
convention, which was held July 13-17 at the Westin
Diplomat in Hollywood. The 41st Annual Convention, with
the theme of Recipes For Success, was attended by more
than 600 insurance professionals. CFO Atwater spoke
about his commitment to fighting fraud, and his support for
the agents who work so hard to provide affordable
insurance products to the citizens of Florida. CFO
Atwater also swore in the new LAAIA board members for
the coming year.
August 2011
Page 2
Join The Fight Against Fraud
As we told you in last month’s PIP Fraud Spotlight On column, anyone can contribute to the fight against insurance fraud
by making a donation, gift or grant to the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund. The proceeds will be used by the Division of
Insurance Fraud to hire additional dedicated prosecutors, insurance fraud detectives, and fund anti-fraud programs
around the state. Here again is the language of the new statute:
626.9894 - Gifts and grants.
(1) The department may accept, for purposes of anti-fraud efforts, any donation or grant of property or moneys from any
governmental unit, public agency, institution, person, firm, or corporation.
(2) All rights to, interest in, and title to such donated or granted property shall immediately vest in the Division of
Insurance Fraud upon donation. The division may hold such property in co-ownership, sell its interest in the property,
liquidate its interest in the property, or dispose of its interest in the property in any other reasonable manner.
(3) All donations or grants of moneys to the division shall be deposited into the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund and
shall be separately accounted for and may be used by the division to carry out its duties and responsibilities, or for the
subgranting of such funds to state attorneys for the purpose of funding or defraying the costs of dedicated fraud
prosecutors.
(4) Moneys deposited into the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund pursuant to this section may be appropriated by the
Legislature, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 216, for the purpose of enabling the division to carry out its duties and
responsibilities, or for the purpose of funding or defraying the costs of dedicated fraud prosecutors.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance of moneys deposited into the
Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund pursuant to this section remaining at the end of any fiscal year shall be available for
carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the division. The department may request annual appropriations from the
grants and donations received pursuant to this section and cash balances in the Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund for the
purpose of carrying out its duties and responsibilities related to the division’s anti-fraud efforts, including the funding of
dedicated prosecutors and related personnel.
This month, we provide you with the information to make a donation if you are inclined to do so. We encourage you to
share this information with your friends, co-workers, employees and business associates, and encourage them to join in
the fight. This is an exciting program that we believe will have a substantial impact on insurance fraud in Florida.
Payments should be made payable to: The Department of Financial Services
The mailing address is:
Department of Financial Services
Revenue Processing Section
P.O. Box 6100
Tallahassee FL, 32314-6100
The donor should include correspondence with the check indicating this is a grant or donation for the Division of
Insurance Fraud. The letter should include his / her intent that the grant or donation be deposited to the Insurance
Regulatory Trust Fund and used for anti-fraud efforts. Also include a statement if the donation is to be used for any
other purpose, the funding should be withdrawn.
If you have any questions, you can contact us at the PIP Source and we will get an answer. Thank you for your help.
Join the Fight. Be a part of the Solution. Make a Difference.
The PIP Source
Page 3
PIP FRAUD – In The News
CFO Jeff Atwater Appoints Robin Westcott as Insurance Consumer Advocate
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced the appointment of attorney and insurance watchdog Robin Westcott to
serve as Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate. CFO Atwater signaled that Westcott’s vast insurance knowledge as
well as her career-long experience safeguarding Florida’s consumers will be a tremendous asset to the insurance-buying
public.
“Robin will be an ardent, outspoken and persistent advocate for Florida’s insurance consumers,” said CFO
Atwater. “She is committed to holding insurance companies accountable and to ensuring consumers get exactly what
they pay for and are protected from fraud and abuse.” Westcott said her first goal is to address cost drivers hurting
Florida’s consumers who are paying escalating auto and property insurance rates.
Westcott began her career in 1993 with the Florida Department of Insurance, Division of Rehabilitation and
Liquidation. She served with the department until 2001, when she entered private practice. Westcott returned to the
public sector in 2002 with the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, where she served as Assistant General Counsel
and Counsel to the Florida Partnership for School Readiness. In 2004, she returned to the Office of Insurance
Regulation, most recently serving as the Acting Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty.
Westcott will continue to serve as the Executive Director of the Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force.
Former Clinic Manager Arrested For Staged Accident in Tampa
The Division of Insurance Fraud arrested two persons for a staged accident that occurred in October 2010. One of the
drivers, Floribel Quiles, was allegedly treated along with her three minor children by TLC Medical Rehab LLC, a clinic in
Tampa, which billed Assurance America for nearly $50,000. The alleged organizer, Lazaro Hernandez Cabrales, was a
former manager of TLC Medical Rehab.
A new law championed by CFO Atwater that went into effect on July 1 means that these fraudsters may also face civil
penalties if convicted of auto insurance fraud or staging an accident. CFO Atwater also helped secure additional funding
for fraud prosecutors in Tampa, the number-one city in the state for staged auto accidents according to the National
Insurance Crime Bureau. “It is always a great day when we are able to track down these fraudsters who, by their
actions, cause each and every Floridian to pay more for auto insurance,” said CFO Atwater. “With the support and
assistance of consumers and our partners in the insurance industry, my department will continue to bring these criminals
to justice.”
Massage Therapist Arrested For Fraudulent Billing in Tampa
A massage therapist was arrested and charged with insurance fraud for allegedly treating a patient who was
incarcerated in jail. The therapist, Teretha Brown, 46, worked at Therapy & Bodywork Center, a clinic in Tampa, which
billed 21st Century Insurance Company $8,371 for the treatment of the patient. The insurance company had tried to take
an examination under oath of the patient regarding the treatment, but he failed to show up on two different dates. The
Division of Insurance Fraud verified that the patient had been arrested and incarcerated on two separate occasions
during the treatment period and could not have been treated.
Nationwide Insurance Donates Vehicle to Orlando PD to Help Fight Fraud
Last month, Nationwide Insurance, working in collaboration with the National Insurance
Crime Bureau (NICB), provided a vehicle to the Orlando Police Department for their
fraud fighting efforts. A special thanks to the proactive efforts of Nationwide Insurance
and NICB SA Todd Blair.
Pete Van Patten, SIU Director with Nationwide, provided this statement: "Our
aggressive bait car program has demonstrated their value in dramatically reducing auto
thefts in cities where they have been implemented, and we look forward to seeing the
same results in Orlando,” says Peter Van Patten, director of Nationwide’s Special
Investigation Unit. “Nationwide Insurance is proud to present bait cars to the Orlando
law enforcement agencies to help fight auto theft and to protect the citizens of this
community.”
Pictured left to right: Orlando PD Sgt. Stanley Klem, NICB Special Agent Todd Blair,
and Orlando PD Det. Juan Gonzalez.
The PIP Source
Page 4
PIP FRAUD – In The News
DIF Testifies at Florida Bar Hearing on Lawyer Referral Services
The Division of Insurance Fraud testified before the Florida Bar’s Special Committee on Lawyer Referral Services at a
hearing held in Orlando in June. Captain Steven Smith and Senior Attorney Howard Pohl discussed criminal aspects of
the referral services and their potential for fraud. Representative Rick Kriseman from St. Petersburg also testified about
the bill he drafted that failed to pass during the 2011 Legislative session, and vowed to present it again next year. Also
present at the hearing were attorneys representing 1-800-ASK-GARY and 1-800-411-PAIN.
According to an article in the Florida Bar news written by Gary Blankenship, the committee was appointed by immediate
past President Mayanne Downs in response to concerns that Bar rules were being ignored and clients harmed by a
plethora of referral services that have sprung up in recent years. One of the main issues involves how many lawyer
referral services are properly registered with the Florida Bar, and whether they are in compliance with the rules and law.
In this month’s PIP Fraud Spotlight on page 7, we provide some information on some of the referral services in Florida.
We will cover this story in greater detail in a future edition of the PIP Source. In the meantime, you can read the article
detailing the hearing written by The Florida Bar News Senior Editor Gary Blankenship at the following link: http://
www.floridabar.org/DIVCOM/JN/jnnews01.nsf/8c9f13012b96736985256aa900624829/6792db0d6c9b2221852578c50055b642!OpenDocument.
The Florida Bar has scheduled another hearing on this issue for September 22 in Orlando.
Florida Bar Suspends PIP Attorney For One Year
Attorney Timothy Allen Patrick was suspended for one year by the Florida Bar. Patrick had sued an insurance company
on behalf of a chiropractor for two claims totaling $48. The insurance company offered to settle for $2,500, which the
chiropractor was inclined to accept. However, Patrick encouraged his client to proceed because the settlement would not
sufficiently cover his legal fees. In one case involving $24 that the insurance company lost, the Court awarded attorney
fees in the amount of $120,772.50 as well as costs. Patrick claimed to have expended a total of 235.5 hours in the case,
along with 157.3 hours expended by another attorney. In the case involving $24 in which the insurance company
prevailed, the Court awarded the carrier $9,000 in attorney fees. The insurance company won an appeal, and Patrick’s
award for fees was set aside.
According to the Florida Bar’s order, Patrick’s explanations in this case, in advising the chiropractor to reject the
settlement offer in which the chiropractor would have received all of what he was owed, defied reason, logic and an
attorney’s duty to zealously represent a client. In handing down the one-year suspension, the Florida Supreme Court
wrote that Patrick had a history of placing his own financial interests above those of his clients, and wrote that “he has
previously been before this Court for the same form of serious misconduct, and he has now harmed three clients by his
continued misdeeds.”
While the case and Patrick’s suspension speak for themselves, the notion that a lawyer could be awarded more than
$120,000 in legal fees for a $24 case speaks volumes about how Florida’s no-fault system has moved from a good idea
for the right reasons to a cash cow ripe for abuse.
Direct Insurance Donates Vehicle to Hillsborough County in Effort to Fight Fraud
Last month, Direct Insurance, working in collaboration with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), donated a
vehicle to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to assist in the fight against insurance fraud.
Tom Kaschalk, Chief Claims Officer of Direct Insurance, stated: “Direct Auto Insurance has and will continue to support
the efforts of the Division of Insurance Fraud and other law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies in combating staged
accidents and medical service provider fraud. We maintain a ‘zero
tolerance’ when it comes to auto insurance fraud which adversely affects
the availability and affordability of auto insurance for Florida motorists on
our roads.”
A special thanks to the proactive efforts of Direct Insurance and NICB
SSA Robert DeLuna.
Pictured left to right: Direct Insurance Claims Director Jose Rivas, NICB
Sr. Special Agent Robert DeLuna, Direct Insurance Chief Claims Officer
Tom Kaschalk, and Direct Insurance Regional SIU Jessica Turner.
Page 5
August 2011
A Conversation With – Elliott Krakow, DC
This month we have a conversation with Chiropractor Elliott Krakow. Dr. Krakow, who currently operates Kaizen Medical
Consulting with his partner Saul Acosta, has been licensed in Florida since December 1991. Dr. Krakow graduated from
the Pennsylvania College of Chiropractic, practiced for several years in Pennsylvania, and then moved to Palm Beach
County where he opened his own practice. He has given up his active chiropractic practice for this new business.
We discussed the current state of PIP fraud in Florida, and hope our conversation is informative.
TPS - After you had your own practice, did you ever work for other chiropractors?
EK - Yes, I worked off and on for several chiropractors, and I worked for a staffing company that
covered for chiropractors who were on vacation or out sick. I was running all over the state for a
week here and a week there.
TPS - Did you have any personal encounter or involvement with insurance fraud?
EK - I did everything I could to market my practice in Lake Park, but no patients showed up.
Finally, a guy walked in the office, I guess you would describe him as a runner, and said “I can
fill your waiting room, it will cost you ‘x’ amount of money.” I think he was working with an
attorney, a pretty high profile attorney, and it did not sit well with me. Obviously, I didn’t do it,
and I ended up closing my doors after only a few months of being there. Chiropractic has not
been an easy career for me, and I maybe that’s partly why I transferred my time and effort into a
somewhat related industry, physician staffing. I am happier here, and doing better. I never
liked the good old boy network of things, I never was good at schmoozing or yakking it up with lawyers. My interest in
chiropractic is very pure, and it’s extremely difficult to make a living with that type of practice, especially in South Florida.
TPS - How long have you operated your current business?
EK - Kaizen Medical Services was originally incorporated in 2005, and we changed to a new corporation, Kaizen Medical
Consulting, LLC in 2010. My partner and I have worked together for about 7 years now, and we met when it was still
legal for chiropractors to be a medical director. We worked together in several AHCA licensed clinics in South Florida.
Those were humble beginnings, but it was also the time I discovered that the area in which I was working was fraught
with fraud. I learned I am going to have to do something else if I am going to sleep at night. I have tried to wear a white
hat in an industry where there are a number of people who don’t. I am trying to convince total strangers that even
though I am in this sea of all these bad guys, I am a good guy. I don’t know if you believe me, but I am sticking to my
story. We realized there was a need for medical directors and we parlayed that into this business. We have had
contracts with up to 93 clinics at one time throughout the state, but currently are working with about 80. About half of our
doctors are medical director at more than one clinic.
TPS - How do you manage the business in a way to prevent fraud?
EK - This is what we tell our doctors to do. You look at the patient file, if there’s a bill going out on a certain date, that
there is a treatment note that corresponds to that date that shows each and every procedure having been performed;
that note has to be dated and has to be signed by the therapist who did the treatment and the patient who received the
treatment. That pretty much is all we have to go on. The chiropractors or doctors are not there 40 hours a week, and
that might cut down on some fraud if they were, but how can a clinic afford to pay a doctor to be there all day every day?
When we have a new clinic that comes on board, we make a physical in-person visit to the clinic, to see the facility, to
meet the owner, to meet the staff, to see the equipment, to make sure it is a licensed facility. We have gone to great
measures to make sure that our contact with the clinic scares the hell out of them. We want them to know that we have
a zero tolerance policy as to anything illegal or involves insurance fraud. Our biggest challenge is can we read the
person across the table from us. We don’t know when we sign up a clinic if they are going to abide by the rules or not.
TPS - What do you think about most doctors’ knowledge of fraud at PIP clinics?
EK - I don’t think anyone working in this business is clueless with regards to fraud. Most doctors are probably aware of
the general problem of insurance fraud, but I also believe that most doctors are not knowingly involved.
TPS - What is the key for a medical director to prevent fraud or discover fraud?
EK - They do a random file review of files that have been billed. They are looking for an exact match. But there is no
way under the current system for them to prevent fraud. If you were to say to them that they are now responsible for any
fraud that happens at the clinic whether they know about it or not, there would be a mass exodus.
Our conversation with Dr. Krakow continues on page 6.
August 2011
Page 6
A Conversation With – Elliott Krakow, DC
TPS - We have worked cases where we have discovered massive fraud at a clinic; including staged accidents,
paying patients, fraudulent billing. In those cases, the medical director is supposed to be responsible for that,
but is not held accountable.
EK - A doctor can be medical director at 5 clinics under the current law. When I was a medical director, there was no
limit, and some doctors were at more than a dozen clinics. I agree with you that if the doctor is not there during the time
that the clinic is open and operating, he cannot know what is going on. However, even if the treating doctor were on site
during all open hours of clinic operation, I feel there would still be no way to detect the patient who was involved in a
staged accident.
TPS - We can disagree on that. Do you think the current regulations for clinics and medical directors are
sufficient to prevent fraud?
EK - No, absolutely not. I believe it is crucial to employ modern electronic technology to assist in the group effort to
reduce insurance fraud.
TPS - On that topic, do you have any ideas about how to combat PIP fraud?
EK - The two biggest challenges appear to be staged accidents and billing for services not rendered. An idea that was
thought up by my partner, Saul Acosta, involves the use of an electronic fingerprint (thumbprint) reader which would be
linked to a database through a dedicated software program. New patients would be required to produce positive I.D. and
leave their thumbprint in the machine on their first encounter at a clinic. Thereafter, every time that patient presents at
the clinic for treatment or therapy, they would again provide their thumbprint at both the beginning and the end of their
office visit. The therapist attending the patient would also provide his/her thumbprint at the beginning and end of each
patient visit. The electronic system would automatically provide a time/date stamp correlating with these thumbprints and
all of this data would become available to the insurance companies or law enforcement for review prior to considering
payment for any bills from the clinic. If patients involved in fraud had to come in for each visit and stay for the duration of
the treatment, they might not go along with that. The machine would provide a date and time stamp for the treatment; it
would not allow them to sign multiple forms at the same time to avoid going to a clinic for treatment. If a person is not
injured or in real need of therapy, they are not going to be willing to interrupt their lives on nearly a daily basis to take the
time to drive to a clinic and just sit there for an hour simply to provide a couple of thumbprints. The machine could not be
tampered with, and we feel this would be a deterrent against fraud. The cost, including the purchase or leasing of the
electronic device, could be borne by the clinic. It would simply become part of the cost of doing business.
TPS - Do you think that you are having any effect in preventing fraud?
EK - I'm sure that if our company did not exist, clinic owners would find other ways to find medical directors. The
difference is that Saul and I take the time to do things the correct and lawful way. We will continue to stand in the way of
any clinic that we have reason to believe is committing illegal acts. We have (and will) maintain a zero tolerance policy
for any of our client clinics in the event of wrong doing.
We would like to thank Dr. Elliott Krakow and his partner Saul Acosta for taking the time to sit down and discuss the very
important issues of PIP fraud in Florida. Let us know what you think, and send us the name of someone you would like
us to talk to about PIP fraud. Contact us at thepipsource@myfloridacfo.com with your ideas.
Join the Fight. Be a part of the Solution. Make a Difference.
The PIP Source
Page 7
Statewide PIP Arrests – July 2011
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 Captain Smith.
Luis Rivero Dominguez, 35 – staged acct 12/14/08 (driver) $6,452 - (First Commercial / State Farm) M
Kenia Landa, 38 – staged acct 07/22/08 (driver) $77,533 - First Care Solutions / Franco’s Medical Center (Infinity / Windhaven) M
Floribel Figueroa Quiles, 34 – staged acct 10/16/10 (driver) $47,039 - TLC Medical Rehab LLC (Assurance America) T
Lazaro Hernandez Cabrales, 27 – staged acct 10/16/10 (recruiter) $47,039 - TLC Medical Rehab LLC (Assurance America) T
Teretha Brown, 46 – clinic employee - $8,371 – Therapy & Bodywork Center (21st Century) T
Ariel Fernandez, 61 – PIP patient - $16,962 – Elite Rehabilitation (Allstate) W
Jean Michel, 41 – staged acct 11/08/08 (recruiter) $32,584 – East Colonial Chiropractic & Rehab / Supreme Therapy &
Rehab (Allstate / Avis Budget / Progressive / State Farm) O
Francisco Reyes Sosa, 38 - runner - $10,932 - Medico de la Familia (State Farm) M
Maria Nicole Martinez, 38 – paper crash – damage to vehicle - $1,277 (Infinity) W
Kimberly Hewlett, 47 – fictitious claim - $4,934 (State Farm) W
Mayelin San Ramos, 39 – PIP patient - $1,195 – Chiropractic & Therapy Services (Allstate) W
Mario A Salgado, 41 – solicitation – Lianet Rehab Center (Geico) M
Jose Ramon Negreira, 51 – staged acct 04/02/09 (driver) $45,243 - E & B Rehab /Sunshine Therapy & Medical Center (Infinity) M
Eddy Llanes, 25 – staged acct 01/16/08 (recruiter) $66,667 - Health USA Corp / AZJ Medical Center (21st Century / Allstate) M
Kelvin Moro, 27 – staged acct 07/24/10 (driver) $0 - Columbus Health Care (Assurance America) T
Oscar Franco Padron, 45 – structuring - $856,541 – New York Medical & Rehab Center / Karow Chiropractic Center,
PA / Chiropractic Office of South FL, LLC / J & L Transportation W
Joaquin Ross Vazquez, 28 – structuring - $856,541 New York Medical & Rehab Center / Karow Chiropractic Center,
PA Chiropractic Office of South FL, LLC / J & L Transportation W
Rafael E Rivas, 40 – PIP patient - $14,006 – Progressive Rehab Treatments Corp (Allstate) W
We play catch-up with some arrests that did not see print in a prior issue for one reason or another.
Arrested in January 2011
Caridad Mora, 25 - staged acct 12/28/09 (passenger) $16,627 - Gulfside Health & Rehab Center (Assurance America) T
Jessica Galban, 25 - staged acct 12/28/09 (passenger) $10,943 - Gulfside Health & Rehab Center (State Farm) T
Wendaliz Roman, 24 – staged acct 12/28/09 (passenger) $0 - Gulfside Health & Rehab Center T
Yuriria Cerda-Ramirez, 27 - staged acct 12/28/09 (driver) $100 - Gulfside Health & Rehab Center (Unitrin) T
Emil Rivera-Vazquez, 30 - staged acct 12/28/09 (passenger) $3,450 - Gulfside Health & Rehab Center (Geico) T
Arrested in April 2011
Claude Robens, 33—fake ins card (MGA) W
Arrested in June 2011
Victor J Williams, 29 - staged acct 02/20/10 (driver) $45,045 - Palm Beach Chiropractic Wellness & Rehab (Geico /
Repwest) W
Yasmany Martinez, 23 – staged acct 01/13/10 (driver) $4,655 – American Healing Center, LLC (Allstate) T
Eslander Chavez, 32 - staged acct 01/13/10 (passenger) $4,655 – American Healing Center, LLC (Allstate) T
Office Code –B (Broward) F (Ft Myers) J (Jacksonville) M (Miami) O (Orlando) TL (Tallahassee) T (Tampa/St Pete) W (West Palm Beach)
August 2011
Page 8
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
Captain Buddy HAND
Lt. Joseph HOLOKAN
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
Captain Brian McCOY
Lt. Kevin JONES
WEST CENTRAL REGION
Counties: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry,
Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pasco,
Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota
Tampa Field Office - 813.972.8602
Captain Michael BYRNE
Lt. Carlos ROSARIO
Lt. Darrell WILSON
Fort Myers Field Office - 239.278.7527
Lt. Mark FRITZ
Copy goes her.
Editor’s
Corner
This month we have lots of news, starting with a
report on the latest activity of CFO Jeff Atwater,
who continues to deliver his message of zero
tolerance for fraud at several appearances around
the State.
We explain how you can contribute to the fight
against fraud through a new law passed this year.
See page 2 for this important info.
This month, we have two pages of PIP Fraud in the
News covering highlights of some arrests and
other stories we think you will find interesting.
We have “A Conversation With” chiropractor Elliott
Krakow. Be sure to check it out on page 5.
Thanks for your support, spread the word and keep
up the good fight.
EAST CENTRAL REGION
Counties: Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Martin, Okeechobee,
Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Seminole, St. Lucie, Volusia
West Palm Beach Field Office - 561.837.5601
Major Simon BLANK
Captain Glen HUGHES
Lt. Evangelina BROOKS
Orlando Field Office - 407.835.4402
Lt. Jewel CAMERON
SOUTH REGION
Counties: Broward, Dade, Monroe
Miami Field Office - 305.536.0302
Captain Steven SMITH
Lt. Violeta SERRANO
Lt. John DYGON
Lt. Stanley JEAN-FELIX
Plantation Field Office - 954.321.2902
Lt. Bill LEE
South Florida Major Medical Fraud Task Force
Supervisory Special Agent Fred Burkhardt 954.329.7427
Central Florida Major Medical Fraud Task Force
Supervisory Special Agent Dennis Russo 863.967.6904