Friday, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried recognized Insurance Fraud Detective DeWayne White, along with eight other law enforcement officers across the state, for their dedication to protecting Floridians during the 2019 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year Ceremony.
CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Congratulations to Insurance Fraud Detective DeWayne White on being recognized as one of the 2019 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year for his commitment to protecting Florida insurance consumers and cracking down on fraud in the Sunshine State. Fraud has reached epidemic proportions in Florida, and we must continue the vital work of uncovering fraud schemes and putting scam artists behind bars. I cannot thank Detective White enough for his outstanding service to our great state.”
In 2019, Detective White of CFO Patronis’ Division of Investigative & Forensic Services (DIFS) took a single complaint involving his identity and discovered an alleged major insurance fraud ring operating throughout Central and South Florida. The scheme involved stealing doctors’ identities and billing numbers and using the information to fraudulently bill and collect millions of dollars from two major healthcare providers. Detective White’s investigation found that these individuals filed fraudulent claims totaling over $40 million and claims paid totaling over $10 million.
Thanks to Detective White’s investigative efforts, a total of 12 subjects have been arrested to date on charges of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), Fraudulent Insurance Claims, Money Laundering, Scheme to Defraud, and Criminal Use of Personal Identification.
About CFO Jimmy Patronis
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and Twitter (@FLDFS).
