Florida Claims Adjuster Arrested in $11M Scheme that Despatched Checks to Conspirators

Further arrests are anticipated after a 41-year-old south Florida claims adjuster was charged this week in an elaborate scheme that allegedly rang up greater than $11 million in fraudulent insurance coverage funds to lots of of co-conspirators.

Florida’s Division of Monetary Providers stated its investigation discovered that from December 2018 to October 2022, Angela Augustine, of Coral Springs, re-opened quite a few auto insurance coverage claims that had been closed or settled. She then was capable of situation some 1,255 checks to 326 confederates, apparently defrauding auto insurers of hundreds of thousands of {dollars}, Florida Chief Monetary Officer Jimmy Patronis stated in a press release Thursday.

“I’m grateful to my fraud detectives and the Broward County State Legal professional’s Workplace for his or her laborious work on this case and for making certain this rip-off artist is delivered to justice,” Patronis stated.

DFS didn’t say which carriers had been hit by the fraud. The DFS adjuster license web page exhibits that Augustine held a sound license and was appointed as an all-lines adjuster for Gallagher Bassett Providers, legitimate via June 2025. Previous to that, she was appointed with AmTrust North America, from 2021 to 2023; with Mapfre Insurance coverage Co., from 2016 via 2019; and together with her personal claims agency this 12 months.

Augustine couldn’t be reached for remark Thursday on the cellphone quantity listed on the license website.

DFS didn’t clarify how the scheme was uncovered. However the company stated the adjuster and conspirators went to appreciable lengths: Augustine allegedly fabricated claims, created fictitious claimants and generated false documentation, pictures and restore estimates.

“Augustine would then allegedly modify reserves to assist the false documentation and make funds on the declare within the quantity matching the falsified documentation,” Patronis’ workplace stated. “In furtherance of the alleged fraud, the co-conspirators would money the fraudulent insurance coverage proceeds at an area check-cashing retailer.”

The lady was booked into the Broward County Jail on Wednesday however had apparently bonded out inside a day. If convicted of the costs, she may face years in jail, DFS stated.

The arrest got here lower than per week after two other licensed adjusters were charged with defrauding an aged Miami home-owner and making an attempt to rip-off $57,000 from Residents Property Insurance coverage Corp.

Subjects
Florida
Claims