SOUTH REGION

South Region - Overview

The South Region is responsible for the enforcement of insurance related crimes committed in the Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee, Highlands, Glades, Hendry, Collier, Lee, Charlotte and De Soto counties. To this end, the region has established two field offices: West Palm Beach and Fort Myers.

The West Palm Beach office is composed of two squads that have recently relocated to 3111 South Dixie Hwy, Suite 310, West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Ft. Myers office has one squad located at 2295 Victoria Avenue, Suite 178, Fort Myers, Florida.

Captain Simon Blank

Capt. Blank started his law enforcement career in 1988 with the Royal Palm Beach Police Department. There he served in many capacities to include: Patrol, Multi-Agency Narcotics Task Force, detective, Internal Affairs, Public Information Officer and supervisor of the Detective Bureau.

Capt. Blank joined the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud in January 1996. He was assigned as a detective to the West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation Squad. This later developed into the 440 Task Force, a squad charged with the investigation of Workers’ Compensation Premium Fraud throughout the State. In March 2001, he was promoted to Lieutenant of that unit. In June 2002, he was promoted to Captain and placed in charge of the Broward Region. In March of 2003, Capt. Blank was re-assigned to the South Region.

Capt. Blank is a graduate of the Palm Beach Community College and a certified Florida law enforcement instructor, specializing in the areas of high liability: Firearms, Defensive Tactics and O.C. Spray. Capt. Blank is also an adjunct instructor at the Indian River State College Criminal Justice Center.

Lt. Vance T. Akins

Lt. Vance T. Akins started his law enforcement career at the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office in 1980.  He has over 28 years of law enforcement and investigative experience. Lt. Akins’ experiences range from street level crimes such as narcotics, grand theft, homicide, internal investigations and white collar crimes. Lt.  Akins has served over half of his career as an investigative supervisor holding the ranks of Sergeant, Lt. and Criminal Investigations Bureau Chief.

Lt. Akins has participated in legislative reform concerning workers’ compensation fraud and is a member of the Florida Workers’ Compensation Task Force. Lt. Akins has served in the West Palm Beach Office for the past 11 years.

Lt. Akins is a certified Florida law enforcement instructor, teaching at the DFS Fraud Detective’s Academy, and represents DFS on many public speaking engagements.

Lt. Glen Hughes

Lt. Glen Hughes began his 22-year law enforcement career in 1985 after graduating from the Florida State University, School of Criminology.  Lt.  Hughes was a criminal investigator for the Palm Beach County State Attorney until joining the Division in 1993.  During his eight years at the State Attorney's Office, Lt. Hughes' many assignments included the investigation of Official Corruption and White Collar Crime cases working closely with prosecutors in the Major Crimes Unit preparing cases for trial.

Lt. Hughes came to the Florida Department of Financial Services, Fraud Division in 1993 and is in his fifteenth year of service with DFS. Lt. Hughes was designated Lead Detective in 2000 until his recent promotion in June 2008. During his tenure with the Division Lt. Hughes has investigated numerous major cases, executed and supervised the execution of many search warrants and coordinated the seizure of volumes of documentary evidence. Lt. Hughes has worked closely with the Office of Statewide Prosecution and participated in several Statewide Grand Jury initiatives.

Lt. Hughes is a Certified Fraud Examiner and is an instructor at the DFS Fraud Detective’s Academy.

Lt. Joe Holokan

Lt. Holokan started his law enforcement career in 2000 with the Department of Environmental Protection/ Bureau of Park Police where he served as a patrol officer and later as a Master Patrol Officer.  Lt. Holokan transferred to Florida Fish and Wildlife where he was a patrol officer primarily in the Marine Unit. 

In November 2005, Lt. Holokan became a financial investigator with DFS / Bureau of Financial Investigations.  Lt. Holokan transferred to the Division of Insurance Fraud in November 2006 where he was assigned as a Regular Fraud Detective in the Pensacola Field Office.  He was assigned as a Workers Compensation Detective in February 2008.  In June 2008, he was promoted to Lieutenant over the Fort Myers filed office.

 Case Statistics

During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the South Region received 1,993 referrals. From these referrals, the Region opened 366 cases, presented 120 cases for prosecution, was issued 93 arrest warrants, made 164 arrests and obtained 106 convictions. During the same time period, the South Region requested $7,144,437.00 in restitution for victims and received court ordered restitutions in the amount of $827,590,202.00.

West Palm Beach General Fraud Squad

Lt. G. Hughes leads the West Palm Beach general fraud squad is primarily responsible for the investigation of offenses dealing with Mortgage/Title insurance, Personal Injury Protection (PIP), vehicle theft/ditching, homeowners, medical fraud, licensees, and hurricane claims. The squad is composed of seven detectives who have become highly specialized in different fields. The East coast of the South Region is facing a large problem dealing with mortgage/title insurance fraud. To this end, the West Palm Beach general fraud squad has assigned several detectives to deal exclusively with this type of crime and has joined forces with other State and Federal agencies in an effort to maximize its effectiveness. Like other regions in the southeast area of the state, PIP crimes are a high priority and detectives have also specialized in this area. Vehicle related offenses such as false insurance cards, auto ditching and “owner give ups” have also developed into a trend requiring special attention.

Workers’ Compensation Fraud Squad

Lt. V. Akins leads the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Squad, which is responsible for the investigation of all workers’ compensation offenses, such as; working without coverage, fraudulent certificate, claimant, double dipping and premium fraud. The squad is composed of seven detectives who are experts in this field. Premium fraud cases have always been a high priority and the squad is at the forefront of the latest trends. One such trend is the use of Money Service Businesses in order to hide millions of dollars in wages and avoid payment of appropriate insurance premiums. The squad also conducts job site inspections with other local and state regulatory agencies in an effort to stem the large number of uninsured and illegal workers/companies operating in the area.

Detectives Tom Puglis and Paul Sennet conducting a job site inspection to ensure compliance with applicable workers’ compensation laws.

Ft. Myers Squad

Lt. J. Holokan leads the Ft. Myers squad which is composed of four detectives. This is the only unit in the west end of the region and is responsible for the investigation of both categories of crimes: regular and workers’ compensation offenses. The Ft. Myers / Naples area has experienced a rapid rate of growth in the last few years and is facing all the same issues as previously discussed in the East Coast.

To increase their effectiveness, all squads have developed close working relationships with other DIF offices, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), SIU units from the insurance industry, regulatory agencies, the office of Banking and Finance, and other State/Federal law enforcement agencies.

Highlights The South Region is fortunate to be composed of highly motivated individuals. In addition to their assigned responsibilities, members of the region were happy to volunteer when their services can make a difference. In the past, members have traveled as far as Jackson County, Mississippi, to assist the local sheriff’s office with peacekeeping duties in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The region also handled duties in the State of Florida as a result of Hurricanes Rita and Wilma. Detectives at the Jackson Co. Sheriff’s Office Operational briefing

Mortgage Fraud - Suncoast First Title Company – This investigation began with a complaint from home seller alleging that a licensed Title Agent working for Suncoast First Title Company, Inc., had improperly closed a real estate transaction by misrepresenting the true selling price of the property and creating two different Settlement Statement’s for the same real estate transaction.  The investigation eventually grew to involve real estate transactions related to five properties located in Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Saint Lucie Counties, committed by four subjects and two licensed Title Insurance Agents affiliated with two separate title insurance agencies, Suncoast First Title Company, Inc., and Florida Atlantic Title, LLC.  The mortgages improperly obtained in those five real estate transactions totalled in excess of 2 million dollars. To date, three of the six persons arrested have pled guiltyto Organized Scheme to Defraud (1^st degree), placed on ten years probation, ordered to pay court costs, prosecution costs and investigative costs. Additionally, they will pay the identified victims restitution in the amount of 1.1 million dollars.

Misappropriation of Insurance Premiums – Kelly A. Killelea - In August 2007, the Gary P. Lawrence Nationwide Insurance Agency discovered that Kelly Ann Killelea, an employee of the Lawrence Agency and State of Florida licensed Insurance Customer Representative had been stealing money from the agency’s deposit only EFT account at Washington Mutual Bank. Gary and Kathleen Lawrence contacted Washington Mutual, the Delray Beach Police Department and the Florida Department of Financial Services Fraud Division and filed complaints. A detailed examination of the Lawrence Agency's Washington Mutual Bank records confirmed that Killelea had been misappropriating insurance premiums for nearly 18 months. From March 2006 thru August 2007, Killelea cashed 56 premium checks intended for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and another 22 premium checks intended for Nationwide Insurance Company. Killelea was arrested and charged with the misappropriation of seventy-seven (77) insurance premium checks totaling $188,272.64 over an 18 month period. DFS was in contact with the insurers from the onset of the investigation to ensure that consumers whose premiums were stolen were not left without coverage.

Illegal use of Social Security Numbers - Operation Dicey Numbers - This case originated while assisting the Department of Environmental Protection locate a subject with an active warrant .  A social Security number was run against the unemployment data base and over 115 names and companies were discovered assiciated to that number.  The Inspector General’s Office with the Social Security Administration determined the true owner of the social security number as a 13 year old Florida resident. During the 1^st Quarter of 2007 a total of 41 individuals were determined to be using the social security number. A Statewide Sweep was conducted between June 5^th and 7^th which resulted in the arrest of 24 individuals.

 Cooperation request

The public is encouraged to report insurance fraud to the Division by calling the toll free hotline, 1-800-378-0445, or by going to the web page http://www.MyFloridaCFO.com/fraud. Participants are eligible for a reward up to $25,000.00 through the Anti-Fraud Program.  Rewards include:

$25,000.00 for information of losses greater than $1 million
$10,000 for information of losses between $100,000 and $1 million
$5,000 for information of losses between $20,000 and $100,000
$1,000 for information of losses less than $20,000