14 People Indicted for $100 Million Auto Insurance Fraud in NYC

14 People Indicted for $100 Million Auto Insurance Fraud in NYC

In a massive auto insurance fraud scheme, authorities said the leaders of two criminal gangs made $100 million in New York City.

FBI agents, the New York Fire Department, and the Westchester District Attorney's office arrested 13 suspects in a probe involving bribery and car crash victims.

In turn, the gangs directed the victims to crooked doctors who overbilled insurance companies for "unnecessary and often painful" medical procedures, said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

According to Williams, the scam was one of the biggest no-fault auto insurance fraud schemes ever.

According to a news release from Williams' office, the leaders of the schemes could be sentenced to 42 years in prison.

Alexander "Little Alex" Gulkarov, Roman Israilov, Peter Khaimov and Anthony DiPietro have been charged with sending crash victims to medical centers they controlled between 2014-2021.

According to the indictment, Rodolfo Chumaceiro, a doctor, and Marcelo Quiroga, a chiropractor, "ceded control of their medical practices" to Gulkarov and his henchmen in the Bronx.

Federal agents allege that the doctors overbilled insurance companies and prescribed unnecessary and excessive treatments.

Robert Wisnicki, who was on the crew's payroll, allegedly laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars using his law firms. Prosecutors said that Albert Aronov, an NYPD officer, used the department's computers to steal information on car accident victims.

According to the indictment, the crew used the money to purchase luxury cars, watches and vacations.

As part of a separate indictment, Bradley Pierre, who specialized in rehab clinics, and William Weiner, an osteopath, ran an operation from 2008-2021. Prosecutors said that Moy and Weiner agreed to perform unnecessary medical procedures on accident victims at their clinics.

According to prosecutors, Pierre's crew also bribed hospital officials and NYPD officers, although no cops were named in the indictment.
Arthur Borgoraz and Andrew Prime allegedly served as bribers for the Pierre crew, making payments to others involved with the illegal activity to facilitate it.

Over 13 years, Pierre's crew earned $70 million, prosecutors said.
The charges against Gulkarov include conspiracy, healthcare fraud and more. Gulkarov could serve 37 years if convicted.