5 Orlando Residents Arrested for Staged Crash

Last week we brought you the story of Governor Rick Scott’s discussion about PIP fraud and auto insurance. Right on the heels of that meeting, another five people were arrested in Orlando for a staged auto crash.

According to the Orlando Sentinel and the Florida Department of Financial Services, the five Orlando residents are Lufaite Olizia, 40, Tracey McFarlane, 40, Pierre Antoine Joseph, 41, Madeline Emile, 28, and Yolando Denise Roberts, 39.

Olizia and McFarlane are accused of soliciting people to intentionally stage the vehicle accident that occurred in Orlando on July 10, 2010, while state investigators note that they promised to pay Joseph, Emile, and Roberts $1,000 a piece if they filed medical claims.

The passengers were all told to get their “injuries” treated through Silver Hills Health & Rehab and Injury Care Inc. in Orlando.

State investigators say the scheme resulted in fraudulent insurance claims being submitted to GEICO, Allstate, Progressive and State Farm Insurance companies.

“This is the type of scheme that is costing honest Floridians millions of dollars through skyrocketing auto insurance premiums,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater said in a prepared news statement.

“During these challenging economic times, Florida families cannot afford to spend one more dime on increased insurance costs. It is my mission to stamp out auto insurance fraud and to ensure these cheats who are making money off the backs of Florida drivers serve real time.”

Olizia and McFarlane were each arrested on charges of insurance fraud, patient brokering and intentionally staging a motor vehicle crash. Joseph, Emile and Roberts each face a variety of charges, which include scheme to defraud.

If convicted, the suspects could face up to 12 years in prison.

The Department of Financial Services expects there to be additional arrests as well.