Three Arrested in Miami-Dade Insurance Fraud Scheme
MIAMI — Three women were arrested Monday in connection with a staged car accident and fraudulent medical claims scheme, following a months-long investigation by Miami-Dade police.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Wise Care Corp., a clinic in Hialeah, taking into custody Maray Arteaga, 39, Elizabeth Montero, 45, and Heidy Mercedes Gonzalez-Perez, 26. The trio, identified as the clinic’s owner, a therapist, and a receptionist, now face multiple charges, including insurance fraud and grand theft.
Investigation Unveiled Systematic Fraud
The investigation began on July 31, 2024, when officers responded to a car accident at NW 74th Street and NW 74th Avenue. Police quickly determined the crash had been staged to generate false documentation for insurance claims.
Two individuals involved in the collision admitted to fabricating injuries under the direction of an organizer known as “Matanza.” These participants were subsequently referred to Wise Care Corp. for therapy services that police say were never rendered.
Authorities discovered that the clinic required patients to pre-sign blank therapy forms, which were later used to submit fraudulent claims to automobile insurance providers.
Evidence of Fraud
During the investigation, detectives found evidence of systematic fraud at Wise Care Corp., including:
- Pre-signed and post-dated therapy forms.
- Patient fingerprints on blank documents.
- Fabricated billing records for services never performed.
In total, investigators linked 19 patient files to fraudulent claims and determined that the clinic had defrauded Root Insurance Company out of approximately $33,000.
Confession and Ongoing Investigation
According to police, Arteaga admitted to orchestrating the scheme, stating that staged accident victims were referred to the clinic by “runners” who received under-the-table payments.
The defendants were booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and face charges of insurance fraud, grand theft, and participating in an organized scheme to defraud.
Miami-Dade police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with additional arrests potentially forthcoming as authorities work to dismantle the broader network behind the scheme.
