Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the arrests of two men accused of operating an insurance fraud scheme involving an unlicensed agent and fraudulent certificates of insurance.
Yaudat Antonio Ohan and Alberto Villaruel were arrested following an investigation by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Criminal Investigations Division (CID).
According to investigators, Ohan allegedly conducted insurance transactions without a license, while Villaruel, who served as the agent-in-charge of an insurance agency, knowingly allowed him to operate and collect premiums without providing valid insurance coverage.
The investigation began after a construction company submitted two fraudulent Certificates of Insurance (COIs) to a Department of Financial Services compliance officer.
Investigators determined that the construction company had paid Ohan $10,500 in insurance premiums. However, the insurance carrier confirmed that the policies associated with the certificates had never been active.
Further investigation revealed that Ohan had been permanently barred from holding an insurance agent license since 2002.
Despite the prohibition, authorities allege that Ohan continued conducting insurance business through Villaruel’s agency.
Investigators also allege that Villaruel knew Ohan was unlicensed but permitted him to collect insurance premiums without securing legitimate coverage for customers.
Ohan was arrested on September 28, 2026. He faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit racketeering, organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, uttering a forged instrument, unlawful use of a telecommunications device, transacting insurance without a license and insurance funds diversion.
Villaruel was arrested on October 20, 2026. He faces charges of grand theft, organized scheme to defraud and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
Ingoglia said the department will continue pursuing individuals who conduct insurance business without proper licensing or assist unlicensed individuals in fraudulent activities.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office has jurisdiction over the prosecution.
The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Florida Department of Financial Services encourages individuals with information about suspected insurance fraud to contact its fraud hotline at 1-800-378-0445 or submit a report through FraudFreeFlorida.com.
Information for this article was provided by Florida Department of Financial Services. Views and claims expressed in this article are those of the source company and do not necessarily reflect the views of AgencyEquity.com. This article may have been edited with the help of AI.
