Eight Arrested for Staging Accidents in Miami-Dade County, Connections to Six Different PIP Fraud Rings

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Atwater, announced Tuesday that eight individuals involved in multiple staged accidents in Miami-Dade County were connected to six different PIP fraud rings.  The press release from the the CFO states:

An investigation by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud revealed that Alexander Cid, 47; Luis Rivero Dominguez, 35; Franklyn Chaviano, 38; Robert E Bayona, 55; Carlos Padron Fernandez, 38; Yosmel Ramos Peraza, 24; Andres Vega Fleites, 61; and Jorge Fernandez Rodriguez, 52, participated in staged accidents in coordination with six fraud rings as organizers or drivers between May 2009 to May 2011.

The staged auto accidents resulted in more than $340,000 in fraudulent auto insurance claims.  If convicted, the eight individuals involved could serve a total of 455 years in prison.

The Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) recently entered into a partnership with the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), which will include the assignment of FHP Troopers to the Miami and Tampa DIF offices to work in the investigation of staged accident ring activity.

The full press release is available here.