Tampa Lawyer, Medical Center Owner Arrested in Health Insurance Scam

A Tampa lawyer and the owner of a medical center have been arrested and charged in an insurance scam after authorities said the lawyer altered his marriage certificate to fraudulently include the center’s owner and her children on his health insurance.

According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Jerry Jaramillo, 34, of Clearwater and 28-year-old Maria Knudsen of Tampa were arrested and charged with insurance fraud and grand theft.

The arrests were the result of a joint investigation by the FDLE and the Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud.

According to authorities, Jaramillo, a lawyer, altered his marriage certificate to reflect that he was legally married to Knudsen, the owner of Tampa Orthopedic Medical Center.

The altered marriage certificate was submitted as part of an application for health insurance to include Knudsen and her two children on Jaramillo’s health insurance plan, the FDLE said.

As a result, the insurance company paid claims of more than $8,000 for Jaramillo, Knudsen and her children.