MANATEE — The state of Florida has made two arrests in an insurance fraud case in Manatee County.
Nerber A. Iglesias, 40, and Michael Borkowski, 42 were arrested Friday and charged with personal injury protection fraud, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud.
Iglesias approached a Sarasota chiropractor about becoming the straw owner of Garden Relief Center, LLC, announced Jeff Atwater, Florida’s chief financial officer and state fire marshal.
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The chiropractor, however, contacted law enforcement and, under direction of the department, applied for a clinic exemption certificate to begin operating the facility.
Working undercover, the chiropractor was also contacted by a local body shop owner named Michael Borkowski who made arrangements to provide accident patients to the clinic for a fee, the report states.
During the course of the investigation, Garden Relief Center submitted almost $40,000 in fraudulent insurance claims to six difference insurance companies, according to the report.
Iglesias and Borkowski were booked into Hillsborough County Jail and charged with eight counts of patient brokering, the report states.
If convicted on all charges they could face up to five years in prison.
Anyone with information about these or any other incidents of suspected insurance fraud is asked to call 1-800-378-0445. Citizens who provide tips can remain anonymous. The Department of Financial Services to date has awarded almost $275,000 to more than 40 citizens as part of its Anti-Fraud Reward Program.
The service rewards individuals up to $25,000 for information that directly leads to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme.
