CENTRAL REGION

The Division’s Central Region is comprised of four field offices, 25 sworn detectives, and six support personnel focused on combating insurance fraud.  During the fiscal year 2007/2008, these four squads received 3,162 referrals reporting various types of insurance fraud.

Each of these referrals were evaluated to establish their investigative merit by Lt. Womer of the St. Petersburg Squad (574), Capt. Byrne of the Tampa Squad (1320), Lt. Harmon of the Orlando Squad #1 (472) and Lt. Harris of the Orlando Squad #2 (796).  The difference per squad is most likely due to a higher population in Tampa.  A higher population translates into more insurance claims submitted to insurance carriers and, in turn, more fraud referrals from various insurance company’s Special Investigative Units to the Tampa Squad.

After review of the 3,162 referrals, they initiated 506 new investigations during the fiscal year, which were assigned to the 25 detectives.  Capt. Byrne’s Tampa Squad opened 131 new investigations; Lt. Womer’s St. Petersburg Squad opened 200 and the two Orlando Squads #1 and #2 opened 76 and 99 cases respectively.  On an average, there were 20 cases assigned to each detective involving Workers Compensation Fraud, Life, Health, Property, Disability, or PIP fraud. Every detective had at least one major case i.e. premium fraud, money laundering, mail fraud, staged accidents, etc.  Major cases require as much time and effort as five or even ten investigations due to complicated accounting and/or multiple victims and witnesses.

Upon conclusion of their criminal investigations, the detectives for all four squads prepared 250 Investigative Summary Reports that were presented to the State Attorney’s Office during this period.   Warrant arrests and probable cause arrests were made throughout the fiscal year, which totaled 193 apprehended criminals.

Convictions reported by the State Attorney’s office totaled 124 for all four squads during the same fiscal year.  However, convictions are usually the result of previous year’s investigations since hearings and trial dates are continually postponed.  More prosecutors are still needed to keep up with a growing number of criminal cases being presented by our Central Florida field detectives.  This shortage of state prosecutors causes several very significant referrals to remain in pending status.  It is hoped they will be assigned for investigation before the Statute of Limitations is reached.

At the beginning of the new fiscal year, 2008/2009, there are 147 cases still being actively worked by the detectives of the Central Florida Region. The number of newly assigned cases is expected to rise with the addition of new detective positions within each squad -- and the establishment in the near future of a new undercover squad focused on curtailing criminal efforts involving staged accidents.

Captain Michael Byrne

Michael Byrne is originally from Syracuse, New York where he lived with his wife and three children.  Capt. Byrne attended Central Missouri University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Police Science.  Capt. Byrne served in the U.S. Army from 1971 through 1973, assigned to the Military Police and obtained the rank of Specialist 4.  In 1973, Capt. Byrne was employed as a police officer with the Hillside Police Department, Hillside, New Jersey.  In 1974, Capt. Byrne joined the New York State Police where he worked uniform road patrol for 8 years and later promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Bureau of Criminal Investigations.  Capt. Byrne worked as an assistant unit coordinator and unit coordinator prior to retirement in 1994.  From1994 through 2003 Capt. Byrne was employed with Royal Sunalliance Insurance Company as a Senior Special Investigator.

Capt. Byrne joined the Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud on November 17, 2003, working in the St. Petersburg Office until September of 2006 when he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the Tampa Office.

Capt. Byrne was recently promoted to Captain over the Central Region and temporarily continues the day-to-day supervisory duties over the Tampa Office.

St Petersburg Field Office - Lieutenant John Womer

John G. Womer was born in Harrisburg, PA however moved to St. Petersburg, Florida at the age of ten and has lived in the area every since.

He started his Law Enforcement career on January 8, 1973 when he was hired by the St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD).  He worked as Patrol Officer, a Patrol Field Training Officer, a Detective in the Economics Crimes Unit, A Patrol and Internal Affairs Sergeant, a Patrol, Records and Internal Affairs Lieutenant, and a Patrol, Staff Inspections and Internal Affairs Major.  He retired after 25 plus years with SPPD as a Major.

During his employment by SPPD, he attended St. Petersburg Junior College and then St. Leo’s College and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology with a 4.0 Grade Point Average in January 1995.

After his retirement from SPPD, he was then employed by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for one year as a Deputy Bailiff.

In July 1999, he started his employment with the Florida Department of Insurance (Department of Financial Services, Insurance Fraud Division) as an Investigator II investigating criminal insurance fraud.  In February 2001, he became a Field Training Office with the Fraud Division.  In 2005, he was designated as the Lead Detective for the St. Petersburg Field Office.  In April 2007, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in charge of the St. Petersburg Field Office.

During his employment with the Division of Insurance Fraud, he has been a member of the Workers’ Compensation Task Force since 2004.  He has been a Member of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) since 2005 and is currently designated as the Central Region Team Leader.  He was deployed as a first responder to Jackson, Mississippi on August 28, 2005 due to hurricane Katrina.  In 2006, he was presented with the Outstanding and Performance Award for his contribution to the Workers’ Compensation Task Force.  In January 2006, he became a member of the Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee (FIFEC) and was designated as the Chairperson for the Awards Committee and the Co-Chair to the Division of Insurance Fraud Liaison Committee.

Orlando Field Office - Squad #1 - Lieutenant Ruthell Harris

Ruthell J. Harris was born in the Pahokee, Florida located near the shores of Lake Okeechobee. She attended Florida State University where received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1985. After graduating she returned home to pursue a career in the Criminal Justice field. In 1985 the Department of Corrections hired Lt. Harris as a Correctional Probation Officer where she worked supervising both felony and sexual offenders.

After her tenure of 15 years with probation, Lt Harris entered the police academy and in 2000, received her State of Florida Police certification. Also in the same year she continued her Law Enforcement career with the Division of Insurance Fraud, as an Investigator, where she learned all aspects of insurance, and unemployment compensation fraud.  In July, 2008, Lt. Harris was promoted to her current position as a Lieutenant of the Orlando Field Office Workman’s Compensation Squad, where she continues to learn all aspects of the job as well as developing leadership skills as she directs and support staff.

Orlando Field Office - Squad #2 - Lieutenant Kurt Harmon

Kurt Harmon was born in Buffalo, New York, but has lived in Florida for the last 30 years.  He grew up on the west coast of Florida and eventually moved to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida.  While attending the University of Central Florida, Lt Harmon was employed by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in the communications section.  After graduating with a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice in 1998, he obtained his State of Florida Law Enforcement Certification and continued working at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff.    During his tenure as a Deputy Sheriff, he received agency wide awards and recognition for his outstanding work and dedication.   Lt Harmon was a Field Training Officer and promoted to Deputy First Class.

In 2003, Lt Harmon continued his career as a Detective with the Florida Department of Financial Services / Division of Insurance Fraud.   While learning the field of insurance fraud, Lt Harmon excelled in the workers’ compensation squad and made numerous arrests.   He was given the Outstanding Performance Award by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for two consecutive years for his high performance level.   Lt Harmon was active on the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Task Force and participated in sub-committees dedicated to curtailing premium fraud in the construction industry.   In 2006, the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Task Force recognized him for his outstanding service and performance.    On June 1, 2008, Lt Harmon was promoted to his current position as a Lieutenant of the Orlando Field Office.   He continues to develop as a leader and directs the activity of the Detectives in the General Fraud Squad.