Florida PIP Clinic Owner Charged with More Than $100K in Insurance Fraud

The Florida Division of Insurance Fraud announced the arrest of Dr. Troy Godsey and Renata Berriel Deazevedo for their roles in a scheme to defraud multiple insurance companies of more than $100,000.

Troy Godsey, a licensed chiropractor, established Spine Health Solutions, P.A. in Orlando under the guise that he was the sole owner of the health care clinic, according to a statement by the DIF. Because he is licensed as a chiropractor, he was granted an exemption from clinic licensing requirements with the Agency for Health Care Administration. This allowed Godsey and Renata Deazevedo to allegedly operate a PIP fraud scheme without alerting health care regulators. While paperwork may have indicated that Godsey ran the clinic, Deazevedo managed the day-to-day activities of the business and Godsey served only as a straw owner.

The clinic allegedly provided medical treatments to people who were injured in car accidents and would bill various insurance companies to receive reimbursements under the “patients'” PIP auto coverage.

In total, three insurance companies were billed nearly $300,000 for the alleged treatment of 20 “patients.” The companies paid out more than $100,000 in fraudulent claims before catching on to the scheme and alerting the Division of Insurance Fraud.

Facing multiple felony charges including the operation of an unlicensed health care clinic and filing false and fraudulent insurance claims, the two face more than 50 years in prison if convicted.

Topics Florida Fraud