CFO Jimmy Patronis Announces Four Arrests in $230,000 Tampa Insurance Fraud Scheme
2/20/2020
TAMPA, Fla. – Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announces the arrests of Aymen Salti, Faiz Salti, Mohammed Salti, and Ayiha Salti, for racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering for allegedly staging automobile accidents in order to file nearly $230,000 in fraudulent insurance claims.
CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Fraud has reached epidemic proportions in Florida and scams like this drive up auto rates for every driver on the road. I’m thankful for the hard work of my fraud detectives in tracking these fraudsters down. We must continue to work together to do everything we can to uncover these fraud schemes and bring these scam artists to justice.”
An investigation conducted by CFO Patronis’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud in conjunction with the Largo Police Department alleged that between June 2016 and April of 2019, Aymen Salti, Faiz Salti, Mohammed Salti, and Ayiha Salti staged automobile accidents at multiple gas stations to obtain approximately $230,000 in fraudulent insurance claims. Detectives discovered the items the suspects alleged were damaged, were never damaged and fraudulent invoices were submitted to the insurance company.
All suspects were arrested and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on February 13 and charged with Racketeering and Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering. Each individual was held on $1.2 million bond. If convicted, they each face up to 30 years in prison. Individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Fraud has reached epidemic proportions in Florida and scams like this drive up auto rates for every driver on the road. I’m thankful for the hard work of my fraud detectives in tracking these fraudsters down. We must continue to work together to do everything we can to uncover these fraud schemes and bring these scam artists to justice.”
An investigation conducted by CFO Patronis’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud in conjunction with the Largo Police Department alleged that between June 2016 and April of 2019, Aymen Salti, Faiz Salti, Mohammed Salti, and Ayiha Salti staged automobile accidents at multiple gas stations to obtain approximately $230,000 in fraudulent insurance claims. Detectives discovered the items the suspects alleged were damaged, were never damaged and fraudulent invoices were submitted to the insurance company.
All suspects were arrested and booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on February 13 and charged with Racketeering and Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering. Each individual was held on $1.2 million bond. If convicted, they each face up to 30 years in prison. Individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty.