It seemed like a good gig. Yasser Vega-Martinez, 34, of Miramar, Fla. was making good money. In fact he pocketed more than $200,000 in just seven months. The only problem he was contributing to an epidemic that's costing Florida drivers more than $800 million. Like many not-so-masterful masterminds behind staged crashes, he's now paying the price.
Vega-Martinez was arrested for allegedly planning and orchestrating three staged auto accidents in a seven-month period.
“These staged accidents are at the heart of the PIP fraud epidemic that is casting a shadow over Florida's roads,” says Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jeff Atwater says. “Every Florida family is affected by these fake crashes in the form of high auto insurance premiums. My office is determined to work toward policy reforms to curb this costly crime.”
Vega-Martinez allegedly organized and staged three separate accidents from November 2009 to June 2010. After the crashes, he referred non-injured participants to several clinics in the Miami-Dade area, including GMC Rehabilitation Center, AB Diagnostic Center, The Osteomuscular Rehab Center Corp, Y & H Imaging, Grand Canal Rehab, Justin Medical Services, Florida Health Professionals Group Corp, Angels Diagnostic Group and C & C Therapy Center Corp. As a result, a total of more than $200,000 in fraudulent insurance claims were submitted to Geico and State Farm insurance companies.
If convicted on all charges, Vega-Martinez faces up to 120 years in prison.
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