The Florida and North Carolina state departments of insurance are stepping up efforts to reduce accident fraud. In Florida this week, where the state’s no-fault insurance laws are cited as contributing to the increase in staged accidents, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who has worked with the county sheriff's office on the issue since last year, urged quick action on an ordinance that would regulate downstream perpetrators of fraud: health clinics.
The clinics in question provide phony treatments to accident "victims" and collect millions of dollars from insurance companies, which have to pay up to $10,000 per patient under the state no-fault law, insurance officials said.
If the legislation is passed, the clinics under question would undergo periodic inspections. Fees for the inspections would help pay for enforcement of the ordinance.
Dennis Russo of the
"Organized crime is here and entrenched in Hillsborough County, particularly Tampa," Russo reportedly told board members.
Former state senator and now Commissioner Victor Crist, noted that he is familiar with the issue from his time in the Legislature, but wanted more time to study the draft ordinance Beckner had prepared, but ultimately changed his mind, granting Beckner’s motion for a September 21 public hearing.
To help combat this growing problem, NICB is training suburban and rural police departments, to provide them with what they need to spot fake crashes and arrest the people organizing them.
In North Carolina, action has been swifter, with the arrest of seven people accused of engaging in an insurance fraud scheme involving staged auto accidents. The Department of Insurance requests assistance from the public in locating two additional suspects. The arrests come after a two-year investigation, resulting in Department of Insurance criminal investigators alleging that the following named individuals participated in a staged accident ring in and around Polk County:
• Ashley Leija Hannon, 25, Spindale, N.C., was charged with one count of felony conspiracy, four counts of insurance fraud, four counts of obtaining property by false pretense and one count of attempting to obtain property by false pretense.
• Janice Hannon, 56, Landrum, S.C., was charged with two counts of insurance fraud, and one count each of felony conspiracy, continuing a criminal enterprise, attempting to obtain property by false pretense and obtaining property by false pretense.
• Julius Jamal Hannon, 34, Tryon, N.C., was charged with one count of felony conspiracy.
• Tyreke Hannon, 18, Landrum, S.C., was charged with one count each of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense.
• Domonique Deshae Miller, 19, of 209 N. Howard Ave., Landrum, S.C., was charged with one count each of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense.
• Christopher Nesbitt, 23, Landrum, S.C., was charged with one count each of felony conspiracy and continuing a criminal enterprise, four counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretense and two counts of obtaining property by false pretense.
• Khadsha Webster, 17, Landrum, S.C., was charged with one count each of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense.
The suspects are charged with filing false insurance claims with Progressive, GMAC, Allstate, Safeco, Geico and Liberty Mutual. The total estimated losses associated with the claims are in excess of $100,000.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau, Polk County Sheriff's Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, Landrum Police Department and Tryon Police Department, all provided assistance on this case, report authorities. The suspects were arrested on September 8.
Ashley Hannon is being held on $150,000 secured bond, Janice Hannon is being held on $12,000 secured bond and Julius Hannon is being held on $20,000 secured bond. Domonique Miller was released on a written promise to return to court, while Tyreke Hannon, Christopher Nesbitt and Khadsha Webster were released to the custody of a parent.
Investigators are seeking two additional suspects in association with this case:
• Michael Kareem Hannon, 26, Tryon, N.C., is wanted for insurance fraud, obtaining property by false pretense, attempting to obtain property by false pretense, felony conspiracy and continuing a criminal enterprise.
• Randy Bashawn Littlejohn, 36, Bostic, N.C., is wanted for insurance fraud, attempting to obtain to property by false pretense and felony conspiracy.
An estimated 10 cents of every dollar paid in premiums goes toward the payment of fraudulent claims, notes the insurance department.
