BRIEF: Brothers sentenced to prison for staged accidents fraud

Jan. 26--Two Palm Beach County brothers were sentenced Friday to nine years in federal prison for fraudulently billing insurance companies for about $3 million linked to staged accidents.

Janio Vico, 32, and Jharildan Vico, 34, of West Palm Beach, were also ordered to pay $1.92 million in restitution and must forfeit $1.87 million worth of property and assets to the federal government, prosecutors said Monday.

The Vico brothers were convicted of mail fraud and money laundering, and related conspiracy charges, after a recent jury trial. Investigators said they fraudulently billed 15 auto insurance companies for faked injuries. The brothers set up an unlicensed health care clinic, V & V Rehabilitation Center, Inc., first in Lantana and later in West Palm Beach, authorities said.

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