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Eight members of an alleged staged-crash-ring, accused of filing more than $100,000 in fraudulent insurance claims in a staged accident have been arrested in Miami.

Brothers and suspected ringleaders Jimmy Desir, 27, and Nildo Desir, 29, planned and recruited the participants, according to detectives with the Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud. All eight are charged with 13 counts each of insurance fraud and grand theft, and one is facing a minimum sentence of two years in prison for a prior staged-accident. Three clinics, including a chiropractor who was previously arrested for insurance fraud and grand theft, were also involved.

The suspects, face charges from a two-car staged-crash in Miami-Dade County April 23, 2003, prior to a Oct. 1, 2003 law that mandates a minimum two-year prison sentence for organizing or participating in a staged accident.

Insurance fraud detectives said the Desir brothers organized the “crash” but did not participate in it, and the six who did, ranging in age from 19 to 31, fanned out to three medical clinics.

National Security Insurance Co. and the Florida Automobile Joint Underwriters Association jointly paid more than $49,000 for the claims including PIP, bodily injury and property damage.

Topics Auto Fraud Numbers