Alex Sink, Florida's chief financial officer, recently announced that 10 individuals who submitted nearly $300,000 in suspected fraudulent hurricane claims to their homeowners' insurance companies are facing felony charges. Eight have been arrested so far.

The arrests stemmed from investigations by the Department of Financial Services' Division of Insurance Fraud, and come the week before a special legislative session to address spiraling property insurance rates.

The fraud division has charged 57 individuals with insurance fraud and related offenses stemming from suspected fraudulent storm claims following the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. Sentences can range from five to 30 years per count, and the statute of limitations for insurance fraud and most related charges is five years.

Those arrested so far are:

Victor Hernandez, 59, Merritt Island, filed four separate property loss and personal property damage claims with three different insurance companies (Vanguard, Florida Select and Tower Hill) following Hurricane Frances. Hernandez allegedly did not tell the adjuster that he had sold part of the property for which he made a damage claim. Another claim was for wind damage to a pool house and a screen enclosure, but the investigation revealed that the pool structure had been demolished during the construction of his “new” home. Hernandez was paid nearly $113,000. He is charged with grand theft and insurance fraud.

Catherine Abrignani, 57, Titusville, filed a claim with Hartford Insurance for damage she said was caused by Hurricane Frances. In her claim, she said her business sustained major water damage, the building was determined unfit, and she was forced to move. Investigators determined that the city never declared the building unfit and that only minor damage occurred. Abrignani's claim was for more than $100,000. She is charged with grand theft, insurance fraud, and perjury in an official proceeding.

Martin H. Katz, 51, Lake Worth, is accused of inflating an insurance claim related to Hurricane Jeanne. Investigators said that Katz had aluminum work done at his residence at a cost of $1,515, but he submitted a bill to Tower Hill Insurance Company claiming he had paid $18,000 to repair his screen enclosure. He is charged with filing a false or fraudulent insurance claim and grand theft.

Brian Friedman, 35, Plantation, is a licensed public adjuster. He allegedly submitted fraudulent claims to Citizens Property Insurance Corporation for mold extraction and repairs to rental property he owned. Friedman claimed the damage resulted from 2005 storm activity and, to support these claims, he submitted fraudulent repair and mold extraction invoices, investigators said. Citizens has paid about $9,000 on the claims. Friedman is facing charges of insurance fraud and grand theft and, if convicted, faces disciplinary action against his public adjuster's license, including possible revocation, in addition to jail time.

Ridel Valido, 34, Miami, allegedly submitted a fraudulent $7,000 receipt to Citizens to show his roof was repaired after Hurricane Katrina and that Hurricane Wilma damage was new. Valido is charged with insurance fraud and grand theft.

Judith Davis, 45, Miami, allegedly provided fraudulent invoices to State Farm Insurance Company indicating $2,500 in repairs for damage to her home's electrical system after Hurricane Wilma. Davis is charged with insurance fraud and grand theft.

Tim Adams, 47, Miami, allegedly submitted a list of $5,000 in personal property to Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for furniture destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but detectives said it was actually taken to the home of his estranged spouse prior to the storm as part of their division of marital assets. Adams is charged with insurance fraud and grand theft.

Scott Olsen, 36, Miami, allegedly submitted fraudulent, inflated estimates by $4,000 for roof repair in a claim to Travelers Insurance Company after Hurricane Wilma. Olsen is charged with insurance fraud and grand theft.

The following are charged but not arrested yet:

Wilson Uvo, 44, Lauderhill, is a general lines insurance agent. He is accused of diverting more than $18,000 in premiums for auto and homeowner policies, including from six individuals whose homes and autos sustained significant storm damage during the 2005 hurricane season. Uvo is charged with organized scheme to defraud and seven counts of grand theft. If convicted, he faces disciplinary action against his insurance agent's license, including possible revocation, in addition to jail time.

Joseph Castranova III, 41, Hialeah, allegedly submitted fraudulent documents to Safeco Insurance Company to show $10,000 in roof repairs for damage from Hurricane Katrina when, according to detectives, roofing work had begun before the storm. Castranova is charged with insurance fraud and grand theft.

Special Reports /

Ten Charged for Fraudulent Hurricane Claims

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