Two Arrested for Related PIP Insurance Fraud

February 4, 2014

Leonardo F. Marquez Garcia of Miami and Dayleann Marie Vallejo-Ruiz of Orlando were recently arrested on charges of PIP insurance fraud.

More arrests are expected in the ongoing investigation by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud, CFO Jeff Atwater announced.

Investigators found that Garcia would allegedly perform ‘initial examinations’ on victims of vehicle crashes, and then refer his patients to the Injury Rehabilitation Center, a clinic owned and operated by Vallejo-Ruiz.

Vallejo-Ruiz, a licensed massage therapist, would then have patients sign blank treatment forms which were later submitted to the insurance company to pay for treatment that was never provided. Allstate Insurance Company was billed for the alleged medical treatments supposedly provided between February 3 and March 16, 2012, on two crash victims.

Garcia also submitted his requests for payment for his initial examinations on behalf of Global Rehabilitation Center, Inc., in Miami Lakes. However, it was discovered that Garcia—an Area of Critical Needs Doctor—was not licensed to practice medicine at that facility because it was not an Area of Critical Needs clinic. Garcia was subsequently charged with the unlicensed practice of medicine for operating outside the scope of his license.

The Orange County State Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.  Each defendant stands to face up to 15-20 years in prison if convicted.