Tampa Area $40K Tow Truck Fraud Leads to Four Arrests

On March 25, 2015, the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud announced the arrest of four Tampa Bay area men on charges of insurance fraud.  The men reportedly collected more than $40,000 in insurance payments after causing intentional damage to two tow trucks owned by Jimmy’s Towing and Recovery (Jimmy’s).

Leonard Bosi, 50, of Dunedin, Andrew Gentile, 25, of Palm Harbor, Edgar Gentile, 42, of Seminole, and Matthew Gentile, 23, of Dunedin face two charges each of insurance fraud over $25,000.

The first of two events occurred in Clearwater on June 17, 2014 when one of the tow trucks was involved in an accident. After being returned to Jimmy’s, the truck was reportedly hit by another truck multiple times until it was rendered inoperable.  An insurance claim was paid to Jimmy’s and shared among the four suspects.

Several days later on June 20, 2014, a second tow truck from Jimmy’s caught on fire while out on assignment. The flames were extinguished by an onlooker, and the truck was returned to Jimmy’s. Upon its return to the shop, additional damage was reportedly inflicted on the engine to the point that it could not be repaired.  An insurance claim was again paid to Jimmy’s and distributed among the four suspects.

The suspects were released on $10,000 bond each on the same day as their arrest. They face jail terms of up to 15 years.

The case will be prosecuted by the office of the Sixth Judicial Circuit State Attorney.