Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink recently announced the arrests of five individuals involved in defrauding Zurich Insurance Group, including Zurich claims adjuster Donald Alfred Toohey, III, 30, by creating multiple falsified and fabricated claims in excess of $240,000.
The arrests are the result of an investigation by the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF). If convicted, each person faces up to 15 years in prison.
DIF detectives received an anonymous tip in September 2009 of possible fraudulent activity by Toohey, and the resulting investigation uncovered that Toohey used his position as a claims adjuster to create fictitious claims for monetary gain. Toohey, Scott J. Kincaid, 44; Brian Frederick Kneifer, 26; Anthony Michal Kneifer, 26; and Tricia Ann Allen, 27 each received payments from 26 different claims totaling over $240,000 from August 2004 through June 2009 in various counties throughout the state.
Investigators say Toohey would create a fraudulent file and claim on each of the participants, showing reason for reimbursement to the individual for injuries occurring either to the person or their automobile during a car accident. The participant would then receive a check in the mail with the understanding that a portion would be paid to Toohey.
The initial investigation into Toohey led by DIF Detective Steve Firestone revealed that three or more checks were received and cashed by each of these individuals, with thefts ranging from $8,800 to over $67,000. With cooperation by the Zurich Insurance Group, it has been determined that none of the five individuals were insured with Zurich at the time of payment, or at any other time, and payment audits confirmed the payouts were fraudulent.
All five participants have been charged with grand theft and conspiracy and were booked into the Pasco County Jail.
More information:
• Florida Division of Insurance Fraud
