Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee
Report Insurance Fraud
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FIFEC honors and congratulates the 2023 Award Recipients
Nominations for the 2024 FIFEC Awards that will be available when registration for the 2024 FIFEC Conference opens in the Spring of 2024.
2023 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Law Enforcement Insurance Fraud Fighter of the Year
Mike Warner, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Unlicensed Contractor Activity – Pool and pavers sales/service collecting money and failing to commence work.
Jerry Zappolo Distinguished Service Award
Matthew Smith -
Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, Executive Director
The Guy E “Sandy” Burnett Insurance Fraud Fighter Team Award
Staged Crash Ring/Organized fraud rings acting in 10 states, and throughout 28 Florida counties.
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Terra Rush, Special Agent
NICB
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Heather Hillard, SIU Investigator
Progressive Insurance Company
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Rose Resnick, SIU Investigator
Progressive Insurance Company
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Erica Godwin, SIU Investigator
GEICO
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Trent Taylor, SIU Security Investigator
GEICO
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Alexander Owens, Consultant, Major Cases
Nationwide Insurance Company
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Stephanie Bergen, Assistant Statewide Prosecutor
Office of the Statewide Prosecutor
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Mark Capps, Detective (former)
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services
Bureau of Insurance Fraud
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Ryan Wiedler, Corporal
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
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Chris Hinkle, Corporal
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
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Marisa Magro, Deputy
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
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Bobby Hartzig, Trooper
Florida Highway Patrol
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Alexander Conran, Trooper
Florida Highway Patrol
2023 AWARD NOMINEES
There are many talented and dedicated individuals fighting insurance fraud daily. The Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee is committed to recognizing these efforts.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023 FIFEC AWARDS NOMINEES!
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The jerry zappolo distinguished service award
The Jerry Zappolo Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor and most prestigious award presented to an individual by the FIFEC Board of Directors. The nominee is an individual who has significantly contributed to the public’s understanding of insurance fraud’s impact on society, and how they may be initiative-taking in the fight against insurance fraud.
Matthew Smith - Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, Executive Director
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Frank Goldstein Esq. - Goldstein Law Group, Founder and managing partner
Edward Lopez - Mercury Insurance, SIU Field Operation Supervisor
Law enforcement insurance fraud fighter of the year
Nominations limited to specific cases/investigations concluded in 2022-2023
Abraham Farkas, Detective
Hialeah Police Department
Staged Accidents - Staged Loss / Hit and Run / Provider Fraud
Josue D. Beltran-Hernandez, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Medical Provider Insurance Fraud - PIP
Fernando Galo, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Homeowners Insurance Fraud - Assisting living facility
Greg Rhinehart, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Life Insurance/ Beneficiary Fraud – Fraudulent annuity withdrawal
Jennifer Tordini, Law Enforcement Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services
Bureau of Fire, Arson, & Explosives Investigations
Homeowners Insurance Fraud – Fraudulent insurance claims related to a structure fire.
Jorge Rodriguez, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Staged Accidents – Medical facility scheme
Kassandra Grimmett, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Title Fraud/ Unlicensed Transacting – Title services company
Luis Montalvan, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Auto Insurance Fraud – Fraudulent allegations regarding a Bodily Injury claim
Mario Fajardo, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Homeowners Insurance Fraud – Intentional fabrication of invoices and receipts for the
purpose of defrauding and deceiving insurance company
Patrick Morrissey, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Workers’ Compensation Fraud – “Shell” organization utilized money service businesses (MSB’s) to
perpetuate the elaborate Workers’ Compensation premium fraud scheme
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Rob Perrault, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Homeowners Insurance Fraud – Unlicensed contractor and was soliciting homeowners
for new roofs, collecting money, and failing to commence work.
Steven Guido, Detective
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Grand Theft Auto
Mike Warner, Detective
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services, Bureau of Insurance Fraud
Unlicensed Contractor Activity – Pool and pavers sales/service collecting money and failing to commence work.
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The Guy E. “Sandy” Burnette Insurance Fraud Fighter Team Award
These individuals cooperated across agencies to successfully investigate this insurance fraud case concluded in 2022-2023
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Staged Crash Ring/Organized fraud rings acting in 10 states, and throughout 28 Florida counties.
Terra Rush, Special Agent
NICB
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Heather Hillard, SIU Investigator
Progressive Insurance Company
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Rose Resnick, SIU Investigator
Progressive Insurance Company
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Erica Godwin, SIU Investigator
GEICO
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Trent Taylor, SIU Security Investigator
GEICO
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Alexander Owens, Consultant, Major Cases
Nationwide Insurance Company
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Stephanie Bergen, Assistant Statewide Prosecutor
Office of the Statewide Prosecutor
Mark Capps, Detective (former)
Division of Investigative & Forensic Services
Bureau of Insurance Fraud
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Ryan Wielder, Corporal
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
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Chris Hinkle, Corporal
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
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Marsia Magro, Deputy
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
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Bobby Hartzig, Trooper
Florida Highway Patrol
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Alexander Conran, Trooper
Florida Highway Patrol
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FIFEC appreciates the participation all who nominated these exceptional individuals
for the 2023 FIFEC Awards.
Congratulations to all the nominees and award recipients!
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2023 FIFEC Awards Subcommittee
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Lt. Colonel Evangelina Brooks, Assistant Director, DIFS – Committee Chair
Anthony Parker, Special Investigator, National General – Committee Vice-Chair
Jennifer Newell, Allstate, Committee Member
Janice Young, SIU - Retired – Committee Member
committee contacts
CHAIR
Anthony Parker
National General,
an Allstate Company
904-536-5389 Office
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VICE-CHAIR
Mark Johnson
Division of Investigative &
Forensic Services
407-835-4461
mark.johnson@myfloridacfo.com
Janice Young
Retired - SIU
904-343-3959
fifec.secretary@gmail.com
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