Florida’s Fraud Division Captures a “Most Wanted”

With a fascinating alias like “Sexy Telfort,” you would think that Erline Telfort would be wanted for something much more exciting than organized fraud and criminal conspiracy. The Broward County woman was arrested last week, after the launch of the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud’s new “Most Wanted” website. Florida CFO Jeff Atwater says the arrest is due to new information that was received on this site.

 The Most Wanted website, which was launched in early April, allows the individuals who provide tips to remain anonymous. They can also collect a possible reward –up to $25,000, if their information leads to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme.

Atwater said, “Insurance fraud costs the average Florida family between $400 and $700 a year in increased premiums, and I want your help bringing the ‘most wanted’ insurance fraud scammers to justice. Together we can get these crooks off the street, decrease your insurance premiums and put money back in your pocket through our insurance fraud reward program.”

As noted in Atwater’s press release, an investigation was conducted into Telfort by the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud. The investigators stated that Telfort, as well as the primary operator of E&M and Santa Maria’s Insurance Services, netted about $500,000 from a “Ponzi” scheme in which they stole from a finance company.

As part of the scheme, which lasted from January to December of 2009, Telfort and Maralene Raymondville –who was also arrested for similar charges in November 2010, acted as agents for the Santa Maria Insurance and E&M Insurance Companies. They were able to prepare over 200 fraudulent insurance policies, which resulted in over $600,000 being deposited into their business account.

“This arrest is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of our fraud investigators,” said CFO Atwater.  “For too long scam artists like these have been allowed to steal hard earned money from honest Floridians.  I can assure you my office is up to the challenge of uncovering these schemes and continuing to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

To date, as part of the Anti-Fraud Reward Program, the Department of Financial Services has awarded almost $250,000 to approximately 40 citizens.