A number of arrests have been made in recent weeks of Miami and Orlando residents who are accused of staging auto accidents and filing false insurance claims. A Miami man was arrested as part of a staged auto accident ring. Angel Sotolongo faces up to 10 years in prison after being charged with seven felony counts for being the alleged leader of a Miami auto accident ring that accumulated over $90,000 in fraudulent insurance claims. The ring attracted participants by paying $2000 per person. Earlier this month several Miami residents were arrested as part of a similar insurance fraud scheme.
Tampa authorities also recently have cracked down on a similar insurance fraud ring. Tampa sheriff's deputies arrested three people who allegedly staged an accident. Amauri Delgado, Zoraida Domitila, Zaya Padilla and Frank Lopez Masso met prior to an accident to discuss how to carry out the accident according to sheriff's office reports. The arrest report indicated the defendants planned to obtain payment from their insurance by filing claims with an unknown pain management clinic.
According to Miami criminal defense lawyer John Musca, the most prevalent type of auto insurance fraud involves one of a couple scenarios. The first scenario involves intentionally damaging vehicles at one location and then positioning the vehicles in an intersection so that the drivers can report an accident. The other type of common fraudulent auto accident claims involves intentionally initiating a real accident followed by false claims of injury.
"While it might seem surprising to see such a spike in arrests for fraudulent auto accident claims, the reality is that such offenses are far more common in tough economic times," said Musca. Musca explained that the rate of theft and fraud arrests tend to rise during times of high unemployment or inflation. "People sometimes make decisions that arise out of a moment of financial desperation that haunts them long into the future. This is often a situation where good people with no criminal history commit acts of financial desperation," said Musca. "It is very important that defendants like this who have no past exposure or familiarity with the criminal justice system get prompt and qualified criminal advice."
When you are faced with criminal charges in Miami, you will face some serious legal issues, where you will need the assistance of a Miami Criminal Defense Attorney. It is crucial that you have legal representation if you are facing a criminal charge. Don't face the situation without an aggressive attorney fighting for your rights every step of the way. Contact Musca Law immediately.
