“Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime and costs honest Floridians millions of dollars every year,” Patronis said. “Just last year, our dedicated fraud detectives arrested nearly 1,000 individuals and recovered nearly $80 million in insurance fraud related restitution.”
In April 2018, a referral was submitted by Cigna Insurance to CFO Patronis’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud advising that McCree submitted fraudulent doctor’s certificates and letters to the Gene Upshaw Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) for the purpose of defrauding the fund. Cigna reported a total of $77,950.28 worth of claim submissions made by McCree to his HRA account and a total of $31,579.52 paid by Cigna before discovery of the fraud. Investigators say McCree created fraudulent invoices in the name of All Smiles Dental in Jacksonville, Florida. But records from All Smiles Dental show that McCree was not now, nor had ever been, a patient of the dental practice.Â
If convicted on all charges, McCree faces up to 30 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. To report suspected insurance fraud, call 1-800-378-0445 or go online: www.myfloridacfo.com/division/difs. People reporting fraud can remain anonymous. Â
