FBI arrests six in ‘pirate towing’ kickback probe aimed at Miami police
On Friday, the FBI broke up what agents called a “pirate towing” racket, arresting four tow truck operators and two Miami police aides on bribery and fraud charges.
The six suspects are scheduled to have their first appearances in Miami federal court in the afternoon.
The four Miami tow truck operators — Jesus Tello, Reinaldo Martin Cruz, Ronald Alfaro and Michael Perez — are accused of paying tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to the city’s two public service aides, Aristides Paulino and Keri Dixon, as well as Miami police officers, according to an FBI criminal complaint.
Investigators say this is how the scheme worked: Local police officers and aides informed the pirate towing operators of the traffic accidents instead of notifying the companies that contract with the city of Miami and other municipalities — then collected thousands of dollars from the tow truck companies they helped out.
The focus is not only on towing operators paying alleged kickbacks to officers, but also on auto body shops boosting damages for fraudulent insurance claims, according to an affidavit filed by FBI special agent Donald Morin.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article15452234.html
