Florida authorities have arrested four Miami people, including two licensed public adjusters, on charges that they forged an elderly homeowner’s signature on documents in an attempt to defraud Citizens Property Insurance Corp. out of $57,000.
“This is why the rates of Citizens goes up, because (of) the bad actors just like this,” Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said in a statement after the arrests were reported by WPLG TV/Local10.com news.
Department of Financial Services investigators found that adjusters Miguel Angel Roche, 29, and Kevin Gras, 28, had talked a 94-year-old Miami Gardens woman into agreeing to a free home inspection. They then forged insurance claims over non-existent water damage and mold, authorities said.
Also charged were Yolett Enerstina Moren-Reina, 60, the owner of Never Mold, a mold remediation firm in Miami; along with Adolfo Jose Diaz-Alfonzo, 26, said to be working as an unlicensed public adjuster, according to the news report.
The DFS license-verification service shows that Roche has a valid license as an all-lines public adjuster, with an expiration date of December 2024. He is appointed with his own company in Miami. Gras has a valid license, issued in April, but no active appointments.
It was not reported how the alleged actions came to light. Roche and Gras could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Topics Florida
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