Three Arrested in Lauderdale-by-the Sea PIP Scam

On May 6, 2015, the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud announced the arrest of three Broward County men on charges of insurance fraud. The men reportedly collected more than $77,000 in insurance payments after staging a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea car crash, recruiting and paying people to feign injuries and undergo unnecessary therapy.

Ronie Petidos, 34, of Coral Springs, Patrick Logene, 39, of Fort Lauderdale, and Marc la Pierre, 27, of Coconut Creek, each face a single count of insurance fraud. Each of these felony charges carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

The arrested individuals staged an automobile accident using a hotel van filled with passengers who participated in the scam and sent the participants to clinics that they controlled.  The arrested van passengers include Shaeronda Jackson, Kennsly Giles and Jeffrey Louis of Fort Lauderdale, Jean Regisma of Lauderhill, Stephen Blanc of Lauderdale Lakes.

Ronie Petidos and Marc La Pierre were previously arrested in 2014 for their role in another staged accident that occurred in 2012. The criminal case is still pending in Broward County Court.

Clink on the link for the Florida Department of Financial Services announcement.