Florida 'Fraud Busters' Land $25,000 in Rewards

March 4, 2003

Two Floridians received a total of $25,000 in reward proceeds for assistance leading to the arrest and conviction of insurance fraud perpetrators, according to Florida's Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.

"We want to reward citizens for getting involved and helping to stop insurance fraud," Gallagher said. "Floridians should not have to pay for schemes that drive up the cost of insurance coverage."

In September 2002, David Samer of Delray Beach, was arrested on five counts of insurance fraud, one count of grand theft, second degree and one count of grand theft, third degree. He later pleaded no contest to submitting numerous fraudulent claims for stolen property including a 2000 GMC Jimmy, two Corvettes, a sport fishing boat, and a private plane worth an estimated $140,000. Thanks to an informant's help a total loss of more than $250,000 in fraudulent insurance claims was prevented. For her part, the Delray Beach woman received a $10,000 reward.

The second recipient, who received $15,000, was influential in the arrest and sentencing of Thomas Torok, owner of the South Florida-based Cedar Shake Supply Inc., and Regency Roofing. In December of 2002, Torok was sentenced to 10 years probation and was ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution to three insurance companies. Thanks to assistance from the anonymous informant, fraud investigators learned that Torok had misclassified his employees' duties at his roofing business, resulting in a miscalculation of more than $1 million in workers' compensation premiums owed since 1997, and the potential to leave his workers unprotected in the event of an on-the-job injury.