Eight Florida Residents Arrested for Involvement in PIP Fraud Scam

May 14, 2015

Eight Broward County, Fla., residents have been arrested for PIP (personal injury protection) fraud after an investigation by the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud revealed the individuals had staged a motor vehicle accident in Fort Lauderdale using a hotel van filled with passengers who participated in the scam.

Ronie Petidos of Corals Springs, Patrick Logene of Tamarac and Marc La Pierre of Pompano Beach were arrested for organizing the accident and sending the participants to clinics they controlled. The participants were also instructed and agreed to file fraudulent insurance claims and begin unnecessary therapy treatments.

The arrested van passengers include Shaeronda Jackson and Jeffrey Louis of Fort Lauderdale and Jean Regisma of Lauderhill. Stephen Blanc of Lauderdale Lakes and Kennsly Giles of Fort Lauderdale, who were also arrested, were recruited to ride in the at fault vehicle that crashed into the van.

The case is being prosecuted by the office of 17th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Michael J. Satz

Accident organizers Petidos and La Pierre were previously arrested in 2014 for their role in another staged accident that occurred in 2012 in Hollywood, Fla. This criminal case is still pending in the Broward Judicial Court system.

Source: Florida Department of Financial Services

Topics Florida Auto Fraud Numbers

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