Jeff Atwater: Miami-Dade Pair Charged in PIP Fraud
A pair of Miami-Dade men collectively face up to 340 years in jail after being charged with fraudulently billing more than $1.5 million in personal injury protection claims to insurance carriers, the office of Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced Friday.
Robbie N. Chamoun, 30, and Nazih Boulos Chamoun, 74, owners of Sky Imaging in North Miami Beach, have been accused of operating an unlicensed accident clinic and grand theft.
The Chamouns were arrested as part of a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
Investigators allege that between Jan. 1, 2011, and March 20, 2012, the Chamouns owned and operated Sky Imaging without the appropriate licensure from the Agency of Health Care Administration. The investigation alleged that the Chamouns enlisted a licensed medical professional to sign AHCA paperwork and pose as the owner of the clinic, fraudulently exempting Sky Imaging from AHCA licensure requirements and concealing the true ownership of the clinic, the release from Atwater’s office stated.
“It never ceases to amaze me the great lengths fraudsters will go to circumvent the law and steal the hard-earned money of honest Floridians,” Atwater stated in a release. “My office will continue to crack down on these unlicensed clinics that set up shop for the sole purpose of committing fraud.”
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5 comments
Comments (5)
6:29AM NOV 16TH 2012
And What was that more money from insurance companies for Atwater's political campaign! Sorry, what was that! Republicans? So glad they lost the Presidential election again!
3:28PM AUG 22ND 2012
They got what they deserved!
3:18PM AUG 22ND 2012
The Chamouns bought the company in 2008. They were operating illegally from that time. As a former employee they told me that they were owned and operated by Dr. Douglas Hornsby MD of North Miami. I worked there for one and half years and never met the "owner." Nazih Chamoun is the owner--signs all the checks. When I left there, I called Dr. Hornsby and his office told me that he was not the owner of the clinic. I am available for further information.
10:10PM AUG 12TH 2012
I wonder if Atwater will ever go after insurers that wrongly deny and reduce payments to providers? What about when pip insurers refuse to lower premiums next year? Doubt it, considering how much money Atwater receives in campaign contributions from pip insurers. Atwater needs to go. He is too close to the insurance industry.
1:30AM SEP 10TH 2012
I agree! Insurace companies are the #1 Biggest Fraud, Atwater do not care, he just want to arrest those that they suspect to stage accidents and false claims, I wish someone arrested me and takes me to jail cause they suspect of Insurance Fraud!
Jeff Atwater Don't You think accidents reports and claims should be investigate before the Insurance Companies pays the Insured, Not 5 years later? How can you even prove that the claim was false and the accident was staged? When there are police reports backing up the accident!
Why don't you do something to the LE? They weren't doing their Job!
I strongly believe you scare those arrestees by telling them that there phone conversation and videos of them faking the accident! If all of that was accurate You guys would have arrest those long time ago> How can they fall for that? If it was me You would have to kill me first! Idiots!
Jeff Atwater Don't You think accidents reports and claims should be investigate before the Insurance Companies pays the Insured, Not 5 years later? How can you even prove that the claim was false and the accident was staged? When there are police reports backing up the accident!
Why don't you do something to the LE? They weren't doing their Job!
I strongly believe you scare those arrestees by telling them that there phone conversation and videos of them faking the accident! If all of that was accurate You guys would have arrest those long time ago> How can they fall for that? If it was me You would have to kill me first! Idiots!
