Three Cuban Nationals Arrested in Florida Insurance Scam Totaling Over $84,000

In Florida, authorities have apprehended three Cuban nationals suspected of being part of a criminal operation that swindled more than $84,000 from insurance companies through a scheme involving staged car accidents and fraudulent medical treatments.

The individuals, identified as Pavel Vidal del Toro, Oscar Mustelier Salas, and Yislan Barrera Favier, are accused of orchestrating a fake collision on August 20 of the previous year at the intersection of South 17th Avenue and Moffett Street in Hollywood. This fabricated accident was intended to justify non-existent medical treatments in order to extract large sums of money from the insurance providers.

Fraudulent Claims Inflated by Complicit Clinics

The scam was allegedly facilitated by two clinics: Ocean Health Care Solutions and Magic Healing. These clinics reportedly collaborated with the network by inflating claims through "false therapy sessions," as indicated in a police report sourced by Telemundo 51. They filed reports of non-existent health services to claim reimbursements from insurance companies.

A key figure in dismantling the operation was Legna Angie Romero Alemany. She informed authorities that she was offered "$1,000 to participate in the crash," although she claims to have received only $500. She also disclosed being coerced by the clinic into signing forms that certified "sessions that never took place."

The arrested Cubans along with their accomplices are facing charges of insurance fraud, premeditated accident, and grand theft. Some have been assigned bonds exceeding $2,500. Authorities have stated that the investigation is ongoing, and further arrests may occur in the coming days.

Part of a Broader Crackdown on South Florida Insurance Fraud

This case is part of a broader investigation that has led to the dismantling of numerous networks engaged in insurance fraud across South Florida, many involving individuals of Cuban descent. By the end of February, three Cubans were apprehended for spearheading a fraudulent scheme operated out of a clinic in Hialeah, which involved illicit patient manipulation and the submission of fake claims to insurance companies.

Initial suspicions regarding the fraud network arose after a traffic accident in November of the previous year. During the investigation, Miami-Dade detectives noticed discrepancies in the testimonies and documentation provided, raising red flags about a potential organized fraud. As the case was further examined, investigators identified a recurring pattern in accident reports linked to the Hialeah clinic. The accumulated evidence established a direct connection among the three accused individuals and the systematic staging of accidents to defraud insurers.

Florida authorities have intensified efforts against these criminal organizations, which negatively impact insurance firms and honest drivers who end up paying higher premiums due to these scams. In response to the high volume of cases, Miami-Dade authorities have initiated a pilot program aimed at detecting fraudulent collisions.

Miami-Dade officials have reiterated their commitment to combating such fraudulent schemes, emphasizing that they will continue to scrutinize clinics and medical centers potentially involved in similar illicit activities.

In the United States, losses from staged accident scams exceed $2 billion annually.