32 Charged with Fraud as a Result of Operation Sitting Duck

Last Update: 3:44 pm

CHANNEL 5 NEWS (KRGV, 2010)
MCALLEN – Thirty-two people were charged in connection with Operation Sitting Duck, an investigation into fraudulent insurance claims.

"Greed, simple and pure, has allegedly driven a police officer, teachers, county government employees and others to participate in a multi-million dollar insurance fraud," said United States Attorney José Angel Moreno.

According to the indictment, the defendants submitted approximately 21,600 false and fraudulent insurance claims to AFLAC’s claims department. The insurance company paid out approximately $3 million to the defendants.

Each claim included physicians’ accident reports. The indictment states two physicians at a Reynosa clinic prepared an "accident report" for each fake injury in exchange for a kickback of approximately $15 per report.

Many of the defendants are accused of recruiting others to purchase policies and join the alleged scheme, which started in July 2001.

The investigation is ongoing. Four indictments remain partially sealed. There are outstanding warrants for others charged.
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The indictments listed below were unsealed. FBI agents arrested the following defendants yesterday and today:

Indictment #1

Lucila Alcala - 40 - Edinburg
Lilly Perez - 32 - La Villa
Desiree Rodriguez - 34 - Edinburg
Jose D. Rodriguez - 27 - Edinburg
Steven Betancourt - 39 - Edinburg
Maria C. Alaniz - 39 - Elsa
Patricia Cerda-Flores - 44 - Palmview
Dalia Cerda-Delgado - 39 - Palmview
Leonor B. Salinas - 46 - Elsa
Maria Guzman - 40 - Edinburg
Rebecca Castillo - 41 - Edinburg
Ninfa Reyes - 38 - Edcouch
Noemi Villareal - 60 - Edinburg

Indictment #2

Idaleen Sanchez - 34 - Edinburg
Norma Sanchez - 41 - Edinburg
Valerio Ramos - 55 - Edinburg
Jose Guerra Jr. - 37 - La Joya
Eddie Guerra - 34 - Alamo

Indictment #3

Mary Cedillo - 65 - Edinburg
Martha Ortega - 57 - McAllen
Yolanda Segovia - 55 - McAllen
Candida Chavez - 34 - McAllen
Lori Chavez - 30 - McAllen
Anissa Chavez - 31 - McAllen
Homer Cedillo Jr. - 41 - Edinburg

Indictment #4

Norma Flores - 54 - Palmview
Nora Palacios - 53 - La Joya
Georgina Flores - 33 - Mission

Indictment #5

Nancy Rodriguez - 31 - Pharr
Maria Cantu - 56 - McAllen

Indictment #6

Beatriz Carreon - 42 - Edinburg

Indictment #7

Minerva Murguia - 43 - Sullivan City

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