Homepage - InsuranceFraud.org Your car is your castle on four wheels. TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Three arrests at a Fort Myers chiropractic clinic for insurance fraud are the latest results of an on-going investigation by Direct . [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the texts of the Indictments and the descriptions of the Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. Copyright 2023 ALM Global, LLC. Charged in the indictment are JAMES MILLS, also known as Jamie Montes, 47, of Oak Lawn, Ill., JOSEPH BROWN, 50, of Chandler, Ariz., JULEY ELY, 47, of Oak Lawn, Ill., GINGER ELY, 26, of Oak Lawn, Ill., SYLVIA EVANS, 48, of Kissimmee, Fla., HOLLY STERGO, also known as Holly Stego, 29, of Missouri City, Texas, JESSICA VACA, 51, of Deerfield Beach, Fla., ANGELA BECHO, 30, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., FRANK COSTELLO, 44, of Hoffman Estates, Ill., JOE ROUGA, 29, of Oak Lawn, Ill., MARY BACCO, 53, of Bridgeview, Ill., STEVE MONTEGA, also known as Fonzie Cerano, 44, of Orland Park, Ill., NIKO RISTICK, 23, of Orland Park, Ill., TONY RISTICK, also known as Anthony Walker, 52, of Orlando, Fla., RACHEL MONTEGA, also known as Samantha Walker, 48, of Orlando, Fla., ROBERT CRAIG, also known as Jake, 37, of Lakeland, Fla., STEVE VEGA, also known as Cabby, 45, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., SOPHIE BECHO, 46, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., MARK BLANCA, 30, of Burbank Ill., DIANA LUMAS, 30, of Burbank, Ill., RICKY BLANCA, also known as Fonz Ristick, 48, of Orland Park, Ill., DAVID JENSEN, also known as Tony, 52, of Lakeland, Fla., and JOE JOHN, 66, of Arlington Heights, Ill. Morning sunshine will turn to mostly cloudy skies, Friday PM Forecast: showers around as weekend begins. You should receive a copy of any type of insurance policy complete with endorsements and declarations specifically outlining your coverage and its limitations within a reasonable period after your purchase. Carriers are laser-focused on customer satisfaction, and each claims experience yields a different result. Be honest and save time, money, your freedom and reputation. $31M Trip-Fall Fraud Scheme: Nassau County Attorneys, Miller Place Doctor Sentenced. The Pierre Indictment further charges two licensed medical practitioners with participating in the scheme. Welcome to FraudPod, the Coalitions rundown of the latest news and trends in the world of insurance fraud. United States Attorney Nick Hanna, center, at an earlier press conference on April 29, 2019. Rockford: (815) 987-4444. Insurance fraud is a crime. As alleged, the leader of the Pierre Conspiracy is BRADLEY PIERRE, who is not a physician. This operation is a continuation of a prior proactive investigation seeking to hold accountable those who purchase or increase coverage after a loss already occurred. The charges allege that the defendants paid premiums on the fraudulently obtained policies for two years, at which time the period for contestability expired, making it more difficult for insurance companies to decline death benefit claims. You tell the insurance company items that you did not actually own were stolen also, in attempts to collect more in insurance benefits. Do not confuse the crime of fraud with a dispute that you may have with an institution or complaint you may want to file for example: complaints about delays in mortgage loan modifications, delayed customer payment, monetary disputes, policy cancellations and non-renewals. The Attorney General's investigation was conducted by Investigators Severino Concordia and Zylona Silva of the Auto Insurance Fraud Unit, under the direction of Supervising Investigators Edward Keegan and Natalie Shifrin and Deputy Chief Leonard D'Alessandro. The insurance industry consists of more than 7,000 companies that collect over $1 trillion in premiums each year. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cook County States Attorneys Office, U.S. 2023 Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. Louisiana State Police says FOLLLOW OUR TWITTER FOR LIVE TRAFFIC UPDATES DAILY: Man taken to hospital after being stabbed by his adult son, Monday AM Forecast: Mostly dry this week, but temperatures on the rise. How P&C Insurers Provide Digital Engagement for Premium Agent Experiences. Each count in the indictment is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. I commend our members and our law enforcement partners for their work on this case, and we are sending a clear message that we will not tolerate fraud on any level., NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell said: Todays indictments reflect schemes to profit by exploiting victims through fraud. Mr. Williams praised the work of the FBI, the New York State Police, the New York City Police Department, the New York City Department of Financial Services, the Westchester County District Attorneys Office, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The Runners then used this information to contact automobile accident victims, lie to them, and induce them to seek medical treatment at, among other places, the Gulkarov Clinics. Contact your insurer immediately if you feel there are discrepancies. All insurance companies have a Special Investigation Unit (SIU) or trained special fraud investigators. Similarly, a stock car racer will pay more for life insurance than a librarian, all else being equal. Sharing of Information between Insurers To Fight Fraud - IRMI Insurance Frauds Bureau - Department of Financial Services The remaining individuals named in the indictment are believed to be abroad, with most of them located in Nigeria. Rockford, IL 61101, Chicago: (312) 353-5300 The company left to pay the claims is often a business the conspirators have set up to fail. The massive size of the industry contributes significantly to the cost of insurance fraud by providing more opportunities and bigger incentives for committing illegal activities. Five additional defendants are separately charged in United States v. Bradley Pierre, et al., 22 Cr. Merchants and consumers alike like to use PayPal to easily manage online transactions. At least 1 in 10 small business owners worry that their employees will fake work-related injuries. All Rights Reserved. Schemes exploiting no-fault insurance laws which ironically exist to make insurance more affordable also result in higher costs, and unfairly burden all consumers in the auto insurance market., FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: No-fault accident schemes, like the one alleged today, can cost insurance companies millions of dollars in payouts to doctors and clinics who provide phony or unnecessary services to unwitting accident victims. NEW YORK Attorney General Eric T. Schneidermanannounced the arrests of five individuals for an auto insurance scheme in which they allegedly purchased or increased automobile insurance policy coverage after their vehicles were already damaged, and then misrepresented the dates of loss in claims submitted to their insurance carriers. The vast majority of consumers say theyre concerned about insurance fraud and its damage. The SIU works closely with the local law enforcement community, including the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Criminal Investigation/ Fraud Divisions within the regulatory agency (like theNorth Carolina Department of Insurance). Office of the New York State Attorney General. 1201 Mail Service Center AARP Membership $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. This white paper reveals how carriers can streamline complex processes, provide faster, more immediate agent support and help them to write more business. Deceptive people alsooften use language that minimizes references to themselves, lays blame on others, provides lack of detail or alludes to actions without just saying it. 1 LSU baseball completes the sweep over Alabama, winning game three 13-11. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice, Insurance groups such as the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, the National Insurance Crime Bureau, and insurance investigative units. Individuals are always encouraged to report Insurance Frauds to their local FBI offices. Raleigh NC 27603-5926, Mailing Address: The Gulkarov Indictment also includes charges against an attorney, ROBERT WISNICKI, Esq., who is the founding partner of two New York-based law firms. The five defendants were arrested on felony complaints filed in Queens, Kings, and Suffolk County, and face charges including Falsifying Business Records, Insurance Fraud, and Attempted Grand Larceny. Ask to see it. Superintendent of Insurance Gregory V. Serio, along with New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes announced on Sunday the arrest of 51 individuals as part of the takedown of a no-fault insurance fraud ring in New York City. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Victor Carrasquillo, 27, of Brentwood, Long Island, who allegedly filed a claim on April 3, 2016 for damage to the rear passenger side of his vehicle, then withdrew the claim after learning that his deductible was $2,500.00. Charity fraud scams designed to misappropriate funds donated for disaster relief. Where is it falling short? Examining the risks and rewards of ChatGPT for the insurance industry, Budget-friendly cybersecurity tips for organizations with limited resources, 7 Ways to avoid falling victim to a PayPal scam, WalletHub: 10 least expensive cars to insure in 2023. The fraud scheme charged in the indictment began in 2013 and continued until last month. Arrests and Convictions - InsuranceFraud.org Username or Email Address Register Today If your employer is a Coalition Against Insurance Fraud member, log in now for even more tools to combat insurance fraud articles, searchable databases, outreach materials, searchable state regulations and laws and much more. The unit closed three insurance fraud cases, two in East Baton Rouge Parish and one in Livingston Parish. 28 charged with insurance fraud in scams involving over $1.1 million in WILLIAM WEINER is a doctor of osteopathic medicine who incorporated a medical imaging facility as part of the scheme and agreed with PIERRE to falsify findings of clinical injuries in MRIs in order to boost patient referrals. A.G. Schneiderman Announces Arrests Of Five Individuals Charged With In Livingston Parish, troopers arrested 36-year-old Gerald Toussaint of Denham Springs on July 31 on a charge of automobile policy insurance fraud. The fraud scheme charged in the indictment involved an elaborate deception perpetrated against multiple insurance companies for the purpose of financial gain, said U.S. Attorney Lausch. Washington, D.C. 20005 Lets say you have damage to your car, but do not have physical damage coverage on your insurance policy. Police say Toussaint filed several fraudulent . Don't give it to others to use, and be mindful when using it at the doctor's office . As alleged, WISNICKI laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars of illicit proceeds for the leaders of the Gulkarov Conspiracy and concealed these transfers by fabricating retainer agreements, lying to law enforcement, and committing perjury before a federal grand jury. Pursuant to these requirements, insurance companies will often pay medical service providers directly for the treatment they provide to automobile accident victims, without the need to bill the victims themselves. He surrendered himself to State Police on August 3 and was booked into EBR Parish Prison on two counts of forgery of a certificate of insurance. How big is fraud? Insurance fraud hurts more than just yourself and an insurance company. At the accident scene, be sure you know the extent of the damages to your car and the other vehicle. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. to detect and recognize fraud. If the company doesnt have a reporting system or fraud hotline, call or write the company headquarters. It occurs when a claimant attempts to obtain some benefit or advantage they are not entitled to, or when an insurer knowingly denies some benefit that is due. The TDI Fraud Unit is a law enforcement agency that: Investigates reports of fraud. Raleigh man charged with insurance fraud | NC DOI While driving, you purposelyand abruptly hit your breaks inheavy traffic, inhopesanother vehiclewill hit you frombehind. If you then are able to obtain the insurance payment or benefitsbased on those false statements or misrepresentations, you have now obtained property by false pretenses, which can also be a felony charge. Official websites use .gov If you are still having trouble, you can file a complaint orcontact us for further assistance: This page is available in other languages. For example, they may see exaggeration of an otherwise genuine claim as just part of the negotiating process. The NICB is a non-profit organization that partners with insurance companies and law enforcement to help identify, detect, and prosecute insurance criminals. Remember,not only could you be jailed for committing fraud, you couldalsohave to pay back all of the money fraudulently obtained and pay various fines.