Authorities in South Florida have dismantled a fraudulent insurance scheme targeting tow truck operators, resulting in the arrests of a licensed insurance agent and his associate.
Javier Gonzalez Jr., a licensed professional, and Aliba Lamas Alvarez were taken into custody on February 5, 2026, following a probe by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) Criminal Investigation Division.
The investigation centered on 24 different commercial insurance policies for tow trucks. According to state officials, the duo allegedly sold policies to business owners that contained falsified information.
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These inaccuracies were reportedly used to meet specific insurance limits required by law, leaving the policyholders with illegitimate coverage. Investigators noted that while Gonzalez held a valid license, Lamas Alvarez was operating without legal authorization to sell insurance in Florida.
“My administration has a zero-tolerance policy for fraud, especially for fraud committed by criminal illegal aliens,” said Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. “Our law enforcement division will continue to put these fraudsters behind bars.”
Gonzalez Jr. has been charged with filing false and fraudulent insurance claims along with an organized scheme to defraud. State records indicate that Lamas Alvarez is not a U.S. citizen and is currently in the country illegally, a detail the CFO’s office highlighted as part of a broader crackdown on unlicensed activity.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is set to handle the prosecution of the case. Since taking office, the current DFS administration has intensified its focus on insurance-related crimes, reporting 60 arrests of undocumented individuals involved in various schemes.
State officials continue to urge the public to verify the credentials of their agents and report any suspicious activity through the FraudFreeFlorida portal.
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