June 2011
Volume 1 - Issue 12
HEADER HERE
Hillsborough County
Sheriff’s Office Seeks To
Arrest 53 For PIP Fraud at Four Clinics
Following a five month undercover investigation into staged accidents and insurance
fraud, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office conducted an arrest sweep and executed
search warrants at accident clinics in Tampa.
“Those arrested
included clinic owners,
managers and other
employees, and
participants in staged
crashes.”
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
2
HCSO Arrests 53
3
PIP Fraud in the
News
4
A Conversation
with Ron Poindexter
5
7
Statewide Arrests
PIP Clinic Busts in
Orlando and Tampa
Statewide Contacts
―Operation No Pain No Gain‖ resulted in arrest warrants for 53 people, and search
warrants at four accident clinics in Hillsborough County. Those arrested included clinic
owners, managers and other employees, and participants in staged crashes. The clinics
searched were Doctor Florida Rehabilitation; Healing Touch; Injury Health Care
Therapy; and Recovery Rehabilitation Services.
Healing Touch had arrest warrants issued for manager Ruben Borrego Izquierdo, two
clinic employees and 33 others. Healing Touch was incorporated in September 2009,
and received an exemption from the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
Neither manager Ruben Borrego Izquierdo nor the former manager are licensed in any
capacity with the Department of Health (DOH), while Chiropractor Gregory Santos
Rodriguez was removed from the corporation in February 2011. One of the troubling
aspects of this investigation was that seven of the subjects charged for their participation
in staged accidents involved at least nine children in their crashes.
Recovery Rehabilitation Services had arrest warrants issued for owner Liza Pereyra, two
employees and organizer Angel Leon. Recovery Rehabilitation Services is licensed with
AHCA and was incorporated in February 2009. Earlier this year, owner Pereyra had
appeared before the Hillsborough County Commission to speak on an ordinance that
would tighten regulation of accident clinics, arguing the cost of the new rules would
create problems for small businesses such as hers.
Doctor Florida Rehabilitation had arrest warrants issued for eight people, including its
owner, Alejandro Ruiz, manager Yordan Ruiz, two employees and organizer Wershon
Cameiro. Doctor Florida Rehabilitation was incorporated in March 2004, and is not
licensed by AHCA. Owner Alejandro Ruiz Calzadilla is not licensed by DOH in any
capacity. The clinic was formerly known as United Gables Medical Center.
Injury Health Care Therapy had arrest warrants issued for five subjects, including two
clinic employees and organizer Heriberto Larriuz. Injury Health Care Therapy was
incorporated in August 2003, and is licensed by AHCA.
Please see No Pain No Gain on page 2
June 2011
Page 2
DIF Busts PIP Clinics in Orlando and Tampa
In Orlando, the Division of Insurance Fraud arrested three employees of Bethel Health & Rehab Center for insurance
fraud. The manager, Jean Fritz Petiote, was also arrested for organizing a staged accident. DIF began their investigation
after a patient reported that the clinic allegedly fabricated documentation related to her treatment to submit to her
insurance company.
Two massage therapists who previously worked at Bethel admitted that Petiote, and two other employees, Oliver Steven
Zidor and Myrlene Saint Preux, pressured them to sign and fabricate treatment forms to submit to insurance companies.
Petiote also allegedly organized a staged accident offering participants $1,000 if they went to his clinic. Patricia Placek, a
massage therapist at a different clinic, and Alejandro Estrada, were charged as participants in the staged crash.
―These arrests represent the kind of manipulation and fraud that takes place in accident clinics throughout our state and
drive up auto insurance costs for all Floridians,‖ said CFO Jeff Atwater. ―I am committed to cracking down on PIP fraud,
putting these thieves behind bars and finding new ways to combat this pervasive crime.‖
Petiote his brother, Zidor, Saint Preux and Placek have been arrested. DIF is seeking Estrada. Among the charges are
staging an accident, insurance fraud, grand theft, patient brokering and organized scheme to defraud. Possible sentences,
if convicted, range from two years for those charged with staging an accident to up to 30 years in prison for organized
scheme to defraud.
Meanwhile, in Tampa, Luis Consuegra Borges, owner of American Relax Center, and massage therapist Solianid Rivera
Lopresto, were arrested for patient brokering and insurance fraud.
This investigation began when detectives from the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud
(DIF), obtained testimony from three witnesses that Borges and Lopresto were paying individuals to claim they were
receiving treatment at the clinic and then submitting fraudulent billings to insurance companies. Undercover fraud
detectives infiltrated the clinic and witnessed the signing of false treatment forms under the direction of Lopresto. These
forms were later submitted to carriers for payments. PIP carriers USAA Insurance, Equity Insurance and United Auto
Insurance assisted DIF in this case.
―This is a perfect example of the blatant fraud schemes that operate in our streets every day, driving insurance premiums
up for all Floridians,‖ said CFO Atwater. ―We must continue to fight these fraud artists and put them behind bars.‖
Also arrested was Omar Lorenzo Aguero after he allegedly solicited undercover detectives to treat at Pain Solution, LLC,
in Tampa, following a staged accident. Two clinic employees, massage therapist Neyvis Mendez and secretary Ania
Horta, were also charged for allegedly fabricating documents for treatment in excess of $16,000, that was not provided, but
billed to pip carriers 21st Century and GMAC. A search warrant was also executed at Pain Solution, which was issued an
exemption by AHCA in 2010.
DIF was assisted in each of these investigations by NICB.
No Pain No Gain – from page 1
HCSO has been investigating this type of fraud since September 2009, and estimates
that the potential loss to insurance companies in this case could be several million
dollars.
Tampa leads the State of Florida in staged accident referrals, moving ahead of Miami
as the fraudulent activity shifted to the Bay area.
In April 2010, HCSO arrested 55 people in connection with an ring that staged nearly
three dozen crashes. Some were charged with setting up the collisions while others
were accused of running two clinics.
HCSO was assisted in the investigation by DIF, NICB and the Hillsborough County
Office of the State Attorney.
A complete list of persons charged in Operation No Pain No Gain is on page 6.
If you need further information regarding this case, go to the HCSO website at http://
www.hcso.tampa.fl.us/About-HCSO/Press-Releases/Releases/2011/May/11-156.aspx.
Chief Deputy Jose Docobo, left, with
NICB’s Ron Poindexter
The PIP Source
Page 3
PIP FRAUD – In The News
Some PIP Reforms Survive Tough Legislative Session
CFO Jeff Atwater said legislative reforms help keep money in the pockets of Floridians by better protecting them from
financial fraud and harm. Key reforms he pursued this Session include:
Resources to Fight Financial Fraud and Better Protect Consumers (provisions contained in HB 1087 and SB 1150):
Tougher Penalties: Reforms include civil penalties for crooks convicted of auto insurance fraud. The Legislature is also
expected to act on a new requirement for police officers to list all passengers in accident reports to eliminate fraud
perpetrators from later claiming passengers in order to fraudulently bill for medical treatments.
Additional Prosecutors: Additional funding was appropriated for fraud prosecutors in Tampa and Miami, which have
been cited by the National Insurance Crime Bureau as two of the top five cities in the country for questionable medical
claims associated with staged accidents. Lawmakers also granted authority to the CFO to pursue grants and donations
to further bolster efforts to combat financial fraud.
―The costs of PIP fraud are passed down to all of us through increased auto insurance premiums,‖ said CFO Atwater.
―These costs are an unacceptable burden on the finances of Floridians who are already struggling. My office is
committed to continuing to fight this and other types of fraud.‖
―PIP fraud has become an epidemic in the Tampa Bay area, and the additional resources provided by the Legislature will
help us bring these criminals to justice,‖ said Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober. ―I appreciate the efforts of
CFO Atwater and the legislature in bringing these additional prosecutors to the Tampa Bay area.‖
―By providing prosecutors with greater staff and resources to focus on the almost invisible crime of insurance fraud, we
can more effectively impact those criminals who are constantly reaching into the pockets of every citizen of the State of
Florida. I want to thank our Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Atwater, for his leadership on this issue and our Legislature for
their deep commitment to fighting this insidious crime,‖ said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
In related legislation, the Legislature passed tighter licensing requirements for insurance agents, wherein persons who
have committed a felony related to the financial services business will be permanently barred from obtaining an
insurance agent, adjuster or agency license. ―Florida has the largest senior population in the nation, and with that comes
a responsibility to protect them, and other hard-working Floridians, from financial harm,‖ said CFO Atwater.
More dedicated prosecutors is great news for Florida citizens; bad news for the fraudsters.
DIF Arrests Massage Therapists in Accident Clinic Fraud Schemes
The Division of Insurance Fraud arrested massage therapist Olinda Rodriguez for her alleged involvement in a
fraudulent scheme at Universal Rehab Med Group, located in Lake Worth, which totaled nearly $98,000 in bills to
Allstate. In last month’s PIP Source, we reported on Operation Look Out, in which eight patients of the clinic were
arrested for their participation in the scheme. Rodriguez is the first clinic employee to be charged.
Also arrested was massage therapist Tania Puron for her involvement in a fraudulent scheme at Bayshore Chiropractic
in Naples, in which she allegedly fabricated documentation for treatment of a patient who was out of the country. Bristol
West was billed $1,526 for treatment that was not provided.
Dennis Russo Named To Lead NICB’s Central Florida Major Medical Fraud Task Force
We congratulate Supervisory Special Agent Dennis Russo, who was promoted in May to lead the National Insurance
Crime Bureau’s Central Florida Major Medical Fraud Task Force, located in Tampa. It focuses its investigative
resources in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Orlando. This includes the beach communities on the west coast of Florida, in
Pinellas and Pasco Counties, through the communities east of Orlando to Cape Canaveral and Titusville, south of
Jacksonville and north of Lake Okeechobee. NICB started the second Task Force in August 2010, in response to the
increase in fraud in that region, with the goal of copying the achievements of the South Florida Medical Fraud Task
Force that began in 2002.
Russo, who retired from Florida’s Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), has been with NICB since 2008. SSA Fred
Burkhardt, who had been pulling double duty supervising both task forces, offered these words of wisdom to Russo,
―Cancel all your time off as fraud never sleeps. Seriously, Communicate, Communicate, Communicate. To make a
difference, you and your team must be a valuable resource to Member Companies and Law Enforcement‖.
We echo those sentiments, and wish Dennis Russo the best of luck in his new role.
June 2011
Page 4
A Conversation With – Ron Poindexter
This month we introduce our newest feature, ―A Conversation With‖, in which we
have a candid discussion with individuals involved in the fight against PIP fraud.
Our goal is to share information and viewpoints that we feel would be beneficial to
those involved in fighting fraud. We have some very interesting topics in the
works, and kick off this new column with a good friend as our first guest.
Ron Poindexter was appointed as Director of Operations for Area 5 of the National
Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) in June 2001. More than 1,000 insurance
companies are members of the NICB, a not-for-profit organization whose mission
is combating insurance fraud through information analysis, criminal investigation
support, training and public awareness. Ron supervises approximately twenty five
special agents and analysts in the Southeast United States and Puerto Rico.
In his area of supervision, Ron also oversees Medical Fraud Task Forces in both
South and Central Florida. These highly successful task forces work with law
enforcement and insurance companies to investigate organized rings that are
fraudulently billing insurance companies through patient brokering, staged
accidents, and other related insurance scams that take advantage of Florida’s
automobile ―No-Fault‖ laws.
TPS - What do you feel is the greatest success for NICB in Florida? RP - The establishment of the two Major Medical Fraud task forces, first in 2002 in South Florida and then in 2010 in Central Florida. This allows the collective
resources of the Division of Insurance Fraud, NICB, Insurance SIU’s, and other law enforcement agencies to combat PIP
fraud.
TPS - Do you think the general public knows enough about insurance fraud, and what can NICB and law
enforcement do to advance public awareness? RP - Generally the public is mostly unaware of insurance fraud, however by continuing to use media outlets to send our anti-fraud message out we may see a future return on our
investment in reduce / prevent this type of crime. NICB and the insurance industry have stepped up the efforts to
broaden public awareness in the last several years. These efforts include billboards, radio spots, print media, bus shelter
posters and television.
TPS - You have been working in some capacity involving insurance fraud for 15 years now. What do you believe is the greatest challenge going forward in the fight against PIP fraud? RP - Learning how to use all the data
and information that is available with technology to provide information that contains actionable evidence to the
insurance companies so that they may make informed claims decisions prior to the claims being paid and the crime
reaching epidemic levels. Information is the key for the future and is our greatest challenge on how to use it.
TPS - What has been your greatest accomplishment in the fight against insurance fraud? RP - The Public
Awareness and media exposure I have brought to light on the issues surrounding PIP and insurance crimes and how it
affects all insurance consumers.

Prior to joining the NICB, Ron Poindexter served as Director of the Florida Department of Insurance’s Division
of Insurance Fraud (DIF) from May 1996 until June 2001. At that time the Fraud Division had a staff of 171,
of which 121 were sworn law enforcement investigators, located throughout Florida. During his tenure, the
Division led the nation in fraud prosecutions and criminal convictions according to a study by the Coalition
Against Insurance Fraud.
Ron served twenty-seven years with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Tampa, Florida. He rose to
the rank of Colonel, Chief of Law Enforcement Operations, and retired in March 1996. He served three years
in the United States Army as an Intelligence Analyst. Ron is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
We thank Ron Poindexter for his continuing leadership at NICB in the fight against fraud, for his many years of dedicated
law enforcement service to the State of Florida, and his participation in our first installment of ―A Conversation With.‖
The PIP Source
Page 5
Statewide PIP Arrests – May 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 Consuegra Borges, 38 – clinic owner / patient brokering - $15,000 – American Relax Center (USAA) T
Solianid Lopresto, 32 – clinic employee - $15,000 – American Relax Center (USAA) T
Efrain Vizcaya-Cartgena, 38 – PIP patient fake injury (pedestrian) $9.930 – Hess Spine & Medical Centers of Brandon
(State Farm) T
Patricia Placek, 50 – staged acct 02/14/10 (passenger) $36,360 – Bethel Health & Rehab Center (Direct General) O
Satirinov Stanislov, 32 – staged acct 01/19/02 $15,077 (State Farm) T
Myrlene Saint Preux, 34 – clinic employee $27,548 – Bethel Health & Rehab Center (Direct General) O
Luz Maria Hernandez Aguila, 36 – staged acct 07/20/10 (driver) $57,773 – Psychologist Technology / V & R Medical
(Allstate / Progressive) M
Agnes Morris, 53 – false injury claim - $330,000 (Geico) J
Luther Crispin, 34 – clinic employee / patient brokering - $27,771 - Wellness Center of Tampa (Sentry) T
Glenn Moore, 30 – clinic employee / insurance fraud - $660 - Whitfield Chiropractic & Massage Clinic (Bristol West) T
Maniacline Francois, 23 – clinic employee - $9,335 - Whitfield Chiropractic & Massage Clinic () T???
Carlos Rodriguez, 35 – fake ins card (Shelly Middlebrooks & O’Leary) W
Ileana Calvo, 46 – clinic owner / unlicensed clinic - $45,534 – All Star Rehabilitation Center (Allstate / State Farm / United Auto) M
Omar Lorenzo Aguero, 65 – staged acct 12/10/10 (recruiter) $16,868 – Pain Solutions, LLC (21st Century / GMAC) T
Neyvis Mendez, 25 – clinic employee - $16,868 – Pain Solutions, LLC (21st Century / GMAC) T
Ania Horta, 38 – clinic employee - $16,868 – Pain Solutions, LLC (21st Century / GMAC) T
Sanford Marcus, 72 – crash reports – Pines Total Health Center M
Joseph Chrispin, 54 – crash reports – Pines Total Health Center M
Olinda Rodriguez, 37 – clinic employee - $6,020 – Universal Rehab Medical Group (Allstate) W
Djeneira Williams, 35 – staged acct 02/20/10 (driver) $45,045 – Palm Beach Chiropractic Wellness & Rehab (Geico) W
Michael Aristide, 31 – staged acct 02/20/10 (recruiter) $45,045 – Palm Beach Chiropractic Wellness & Rehab (Geico) W
Michael Aristide, 31 – staged acct 11/24/10 (recruiter) $31,789 – Good Care Chiropractic Center / Palm Beach
Chiropractic Wellness & Rehab (Assurance America / Geico / Republic Western) W
Farah Pierre, 25 – staged acct 05/03/10 (driver) $0 – (RepWest) W
Djeneira Williams, 35 – staged acct 11/24/10 (passenger) $29,000 - Palm Beach Chiropractic Wellness & Rehab (Geico) W
Jean Gerald Roc, 42 – staged acct 05/03/10 (recruiter / passenger) $8,587 - McClellan Chiropractic (RepWest) W
Albert Benson, 25 – staged acct 08/22/09 (driver) $3,421 - Dr Gregory Moses (Republic Western) W
Christopher Bell, 38 – staged acct 02/20/10 (recruiter) $45,045 – Palm Beach Chiropractic Wellness & Rehab (Geico) W
Tania Puron, 36 – clinic employee = $1,526 – Bayshore Chiropractic (Bristol West) F
Tekeira Jones, 21 – staged acct 11/24/10 (driver) $31,789 - (Republic Western) W
Wadson Benjamin, 29 – staged acct 08/22/09 (passenger) $6,445 - Dr Gregory Moses (Republic Western) W
Joseph Valentin, 40 – staged acct 05/03/10 (recruiter / driver) $28,333 - West Palm Beach Wellness and Rehabilitation
Center (RepWest) W
Jose Fernando Ruiz, 35 – staged acct 01/03/10 (driver) $8,405 – Quality Therapy Center (Omni) T
Christopher Crenshaw, 30 – staged acct 08/22/09 (passenger) $4,140 - Dr Gregory Moses (Republic Western) W
Office Code –B (Broward) F (Ft Myers) J (Jacksonville) M (Miami) O (Orlando) TL (Tallahassee) T (Tampa/St Pete) W (West Palm Beach)
June 2011
Page 6
Statewide PIP Arrests – May 2011
Listed below are the names of the suspects who were arrested and/or had warrants issued against them as part of
Operation No Pain No Gain by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. If you need additional details on any of these
arrests, please contact HCSO.
Healing Touch, LLC
Recovery Rehabilitation Services
Ruben Borrego, 36 – Office Manager
Lollet Perez, 25 - Billing Clerk
Diana Vaga, 20 – Receptionist
Michael Clothen, Jr, 56—patient
Tremeka Porter, 33—patient
Liza Pereyra, 28 – owner
Jorge Alonso, 41 – therapist
Ciara Salgado-Alvarado, 26 – receptionist
Angel Leon, 35 – organizer
Guillermina Lugo, 35—patient
Rose Rodriguez, 43—patient
Flordelles Santiago, 40—patient
Ana Rodriguez, 31—patient
Teresa Canals, 41—patient
Jonathan Philogene, 18 - patient
Marien Garcia, 38 - patient
Rafael Fee, 39 - patient
Leidy Vigoa, 18 - patient
Arcides Valdez, 66 - patient
Doctor Florida Rehabilitation
Jose A Diaz, 21 – patient
Yunior Diaz, 33 - patient
Maricela Taboada, 57 - patient
Orlando Noda, 38 – patient
Manuel Vigoa, 34 – patient
George Lopez, 47 – patient
Miguel A Medina, 26 – patient
Yenia Dominguez, 21 – patient
Ivette Salvador, 59 – patient
Eric Diaz, 30 – patient
Marcos A Diaz, 39 – patient
Yoandra Rodriguez, 39 – patient
Elena C Zayas, 65 – patient
Amarelyes Del Sol, 21 – patient
Nieves Naranjo, 47 – patient
Nicole Lopez-Matos, 22 – patient
Leonardo Rimblas, 22 – patient
Frank Garcia, 29 – patient
Dayana Cabrera, 23 – patient
Jennifer Serrano, 29 – patient
Rosendo Hernandez, 26 – patient
Injury Health Care Therapy
Alejandro Ruiz, 37 – owner
Yordan Ruiz, 26 – manager
Wershon Cameiro, 37 – organizer
Dayana Marrero, 26 – receptionist
Rafael Frias, 30 – therapist
Katia Lippincott, 31 – suspect
Halandra Correa, 30 – suspect
Alesandro Oliveira, 31 – patient
Jay Morillo, 24 – therapist
Yamilys Carbo, 39 - receptionist
Heriberto Larriuz, 37 – organizer
Juan Rivera, 37 – suspect
Luis Santiago, 40 – suspect
The PIP Source
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
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
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
Tampa Field Office - 813.972.8602
Captain Michael BYRNE
Lt. Carlos ROSARIO
Lt. Darrell WILSON
South Florida Major Medical Fraud Task Force
Supervisory Special Agent Fred Burkhardt 954-329-7427
Fort Myers Field Office - 239.278.7527
Lt. Mark FRITZ
Central Florida Major Medical Fraud Task Force
Supervisory Special Agent Dennis Russo 863-967-6904
Copy goes her.
Editor’s
Corner
This month’s cover story involves a case that we
hope will have a big impact on fraud in the Tampa
Bay area. Good job HCSO!
We also introduce a new feature, “A Conversation
With”, and our first guest is NICB’s Ron Poindexter.
Check it out on page 4.
We want to thank the Coalition Against Insurance
Fraud, Florida Insurance Council (FIC), the Fraud
Alert Team of Tampa Bay, the Latin American
Association of Insurance Agencies (LAAIA), the
National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the
Sunshine Alliance to Erase Fraud, and especially
DFS’ own Ashley Mayer, who worked so hard on
PIP legislation in Florida this year. Unfortunately,
we did not get all that we believe was necessary to
advance the fight against PIP fraud, but we will try
again next year.
A good place for a photo or graphic