Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia reported the arrest of five people in connection with a staged motor vehicle crash scheme aimed at illegally collecting insurance premiums.
On Monday, the Department of Financial Services’ Criminal Investigations Division (CID) announced the arrests, which stemmed from an inquiry into a suspicious crash reported by an insurance firm. Authorities identified the suspects as follows:
- Yumilka Melendez Pagan
- Yancenia Diaz
- Milaimi Gonzalez Acosta
- Alfredo Ernesto Phinney Estrada
- Vidal Jose Rojas Balbas
Each faces allegations related to allegedly charging insurers for injuries that did not occur.
Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia stated, “Staged wrecks are risky schemes that endanger innocent lives for financial gain. These offenders who attempted to manipulate the system for personal gain will face consequences for their conduct.”
There is no room for fraud in Florida, and there is no room for criminal illegal aliens. My investigators will continue to identify and arrest these fraudsters.”
According to authorities, the inquiry began after an insurance provider reported a strange one-car incident in which a vehicle collided with a tree. CID agents launched an investigation and eventually gained admissions from two of the perpetrators, who claimed the incident was preplanned and purposely staged.
Authorities stated that the plot stretched beyond the incident itself. Three of the suspects worked at a Miami physical therapy clinic, where they reportedly obtained blank treatment papers and filed bogus claims for services that were never given. Investigators estimate that the fraud resulted in $30,936.80 in stolen insurance payments.
Rojas Balbas and Melendez Pagan were arrested on April 20 and accused of staging an accident. Diaz and Phinney Estrada were arrested on April 30, while Gonzalez Acosta was detained on May 4. Authorities have charged Diaz, Gonzalez Acosta, and Phinney Estrada with insurance fraud, grand theft, and an organized plot to deceive.
Officials said the accused may face up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.
The Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office will prosecute the matter.
State officials are pushing the public to report suspected insurance fraud to the Department of Financial Services using the FraudFreeFlorida.com tip site.
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