CFO Jimmy Patronis Announces $47,000 PIP Fraud Arrest in Miami-Dade County

MIAMI, Fla. – Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrests of Yanirma Toledo, Lensky Jose Hernandez-Santiago and Maylett Leiva-Santana. These individuals are charged with intentionally defrauding United Auto Insurance Company to allegedly exploit the personal injury and protection (PIP) benefits associated with the auto policies for financial gain. Toledo, Hernandez-Santiago, and Leiva-Santana allegedly defrauded United Auto Insurance Company more than $47,000 in total.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “It’s amazing the lengths fraudsters will go simply to make a quick buck and this is exactly the kind of fraud that drives up car insurance rates for every Floridian on our roadways. As your CFO, I have made it one of my top priorities to fight fraud in Florida by putting policyholders first and ensuring that fraudsters find their way behind bars. Thank you to the dedicated fraud detectives of our Criminal Investigations Division for your diligence and hard work on this case. I also appreciate the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for prosecuting the case.”

The Criminal Investigations Division, Bureau of Insurance Fraud, arrested three individuals in Miami-Dade County identified as Yanirma Toledo, Lensky Jose Hernandez-Santiago and Maylett Leiva-Santana. An undercover operation revealed that Therapist Hernandez, Nurse Practitioner Laiva-Santana, and Clinic Owner Yanirma Toledo from Ace Medical and Rehab Center in Miami allegedly signed and submitted physical therapy treatment forms from January 31, 2024 through March 8, 2024, for therapies that were never provided to the cooperating witnesses. These therapy forms were later used to bill and support insurance claims submitted to United Auto Insurance Company for a total of $47,310. The cooperating witnesses would attend the clinic once a week under the supervision of detectives. Hernandez and Toledo would give the witness blank therapy forms to sign but would never administer any type of therapy. Therapist Hernandez never even attended to the witnesses, but still signed the therapy forms. Nurse Practitioner Laiva-Santana also never attended to the witnesses.

All three subjects surrendered themselves at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, and have been charged with RICO/Racketeering, Insurance Fraud and Grand Theft. The Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney's Insurance Fraud Unit will prosecute this case. 

If convicted, Yanirma Toledo, Lensky Jose Hernandez-Santiago and Maylett Leiva-Santana could face up to 20 years in prison.

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis

Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).