Florida Department of Insurance Fraud Announces Two PIP-Related Arrests

Leonardo F. Marquez Garcia and Dayleann Marie Vallejo-Ruiz, of Miami and Orlando respectively, were arrested on charges of insurance fraud, according to an announcement by CFO Jeff Atwater.

An investigation by the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud revealed that Garcia would do supposed ‘initial examinations’ on crash victims and refer them to the Injury Rehabilitation Center for physical therapy treatments. Vallejo-Ruiz, the owner of the clinic and a licensed massage therapist, had patients sign blank treatment forms that were sent to the insurance company requesting payment for services never provided.

Allstate insurance company received bills for the alleged medical treatments purportedly provided between February 3 and March 16, 2012, on two crash victims. Leonardo F. Marquez Garcia submitted requests for payment for his initial examinations claiming his services were provided on behalf of Global Rehabilitation Center, Inc., in Miami Lakes, Fla., The facility was not an Area of Critical Need facility and where Leonardo F. Marquez Garcia, an Area of Critical Needs Doctor, was not licensed to practice medicine. Therefore, Garcia was additionally charged with the unlicensed practice of medicine for operating outside the scope of his license.

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected. The case is being prosecuted by the Orange County State Attorney’s Office, and each defendant faces up to 15-20 years in prison if convicted.

Source: Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud