Twelve current and former Miami-Dade School District school bus employees were arrested last week for allegedly filing fraudulent insurance claims totaling $426,933, according to a statement from Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis.
The bus drivers and aides are accused of using the personal information of approximately 11 children to file fraudulent insurance reimbursement claims, all under the direction of alleged ‘ringleader’ Shanequa Latoya Veal, a former Miami-Dade School District employee, the statement says.
An investigation by fraud detectives with the Florida Department Financial Services revealed between 2015 and 2018, 12 current and former Miami-Dade School District employees allegedly submitted 68 fraudulent accident injury insurance claims to an insurance company using the same injury accident information. They allegedly obtained legitimate medical records supplied by fellow participants and shared the personal information of children who were previously treated at various medical facilities. This enabled them to file insurance claims as if they were the parents of the children. As a result of this scheme, the insurance company paid a total of $426,933 in claim payments.
Arrested individuals were booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK) on charges of organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, and false and fraudulent insurance claims. The arrested include: Shanequa Latoya Veal, Davina Renee Stephens, Charlie Griffin III, Sylvia Albertha Nickle, Keyonna Lacrice McCown-Persaud, Ruby Ray Carter, Evette Nicole Woodard, Shevet Walker Mabry, Alma Denise Jackson, Regina Cettali Johnson, Gervanna Vikers, and Shenna Denise Lewis.
The case is being prosecuted by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. Individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“Using the identities of innocent children to file fake insurance claims to make a quick buck is shameful. It is especially alarming when these individuals were responsible for the safety and security of children in their roles with the Miami-Dade School District,” said Patronis.
Source: Florida Department of Financial Services
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