CFO Patronis Announces Arrest in $60,000 Broward County Property Insurance Fraud Scheme
MyFloridaCFO, April 17, 2023
MIRAMAR, Fla. - Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrests of Leduc Obas and Rachelle Remy on charges of Scheme to Defraud and False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims for their alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud Edison insurance company out of more than $60,000 in homeowners insurance claim payments.
CFO Jimmy Patronis said, "For too long, fraudsters have worked to game the system and damage Florida’s property insurance market which drives up rates for everyone in our state. My fraud detectives are working around the clock to investigate allegations of fraud and bring these bad actors to justice. We need your fraud tips to crack down on these scams. If you or someone you know is suspicious of fraud, please report it immediately by calling our toll-free Insurance Fraud Hotline at 1-800-378-0445 or visiting FraudFreeFlorida.com."
The Division of Investigative and Forensic Services (DIFS), Bureau of Insurance Fraud received information from Edison Insurance Company that Leduc Obas and Rachelle Remy submitted a signed lease agreement for an additional living expense claim while their home was undergoing repairs for water damage. The alleged rental property term was from July 1, 2022, to November 31, 2022, costing approximately $15,000 per month. Edison Insurance paid Obas and Remy $60,222 based on the lease agreement submitted in support of the claim. A DIFS investigation further revealed that the rental property was occupied by someone else during the dates on the submitted lease agreement and that Obas and Remy never lived at the rental property. Instead, they pocketed the $60,222 in fraudulent additional living expense payments for their own personal use.
Leduc Obas and Rachelle Remy were arrested on April 14, 2023 and transported to Broward County Jail. If convicted, Obas and Remy could each face up to 10 years in prison.