State investigators say a Tampa man turned his health insurance into a personal ATM, filing more than $159,000 in bogus claims before the alleged scheme unraveled.
Authorities arrested Torey Jermaine Keith on June 11 after concluding he submitted 15 counterfeit, altered or otherwise fraudulent reimbursement requests that were ultimately paid out, totaling about $159,557.50. The arrest followed a probe by the Department of Financial Services' Criminal Investigations Division, which released details of the case this week.
According to the Tampa Free Press, the investigation began when Keith's insurer flagged paperwork that could not be verified. From there, state detectives say they traced 15 suspect submissions back to him. Keith has been charged with making false and fraudulent insurance claims, uttering a forged instrument and engaging in an organized scheme to defraud.
The Department of Financial Services' Criminal Investigations Division, part of the statewide insurance-fraud unit, handles cases like this across Florida and works with local prosecutors to bring criminal charges, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services. The agency has long warned that fraud drives up costs for honest policyholders and says its detectives follow tips from both insurers and the public.
Charges and legal implications
Keith faces felony counts that carry serious potential prison time under Florida law. An organized scheme to defraud that brings in $50,000 or more is classified as a first-degree felony, while uttering a forged instrument is a third-degree felony, per the Florida Statutes and related provisions in the Florida Statutes. The charges are allegations, and Keith is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
State investigators have not released further details on the suspected scheme or how long it allegedly ran. Anyone with information about possible insurance fraud can contact the Department of Financial Services tip line or file a report online through the FraudFreeFlorida portal. Officials say public tips often help them recover stolen funds and shut down similar scams.
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