Naples man gets 14 years in prison in car insurance scheme

Feb. 28--A Naples man was sentenced to 14 years in a federal prison for his role in a $2 million scheme to defraud automobile insurance companies.

U.S. District Judge Sheri Poster Chappell has sentenced Nesly Loute, 52, for conspiring to commit mail fraud.

The court also ordered him to pay restitution of $2.15 million to the victims, the insurance companies. A federal jury in September found him guilty.

Loute conspired with others to operate unlicensed chiropractic clinics and bill automobile insurance companies for personal injury protection benefits, according to evidence revealed at his trial.

Members of the conspiracy also paid patients to induce them to seek treatment at the unlicensed clinics so the automobile insurance companies could be billed for their PIP benefits, the U.S. attorney's office in the Middle District of Florida reported Tuesday.

In addition, members of the conspiracy participated in staged motor vehicle accidents and then submitted claims to automobile insurance companies for PIP benefits based on those fake accidents, the U.S. attorney's office said in a news release.

Five others previously pleaded guilty to charges relating to this conspiracy. Four already have been sentenced.

Garry Joseph, 37, Naples, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and was sentenced to 37 months' imprisonment; Anouce Toussaint, 33, Naples, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to launder money and received 18 months' imprisonment; Maria Victoria Lopez, 44, Moore Haven, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and was sentenced to three years' probation; David Adamson, 47, Bonita Springs, a licensed chiropractor, pleaded guilty to mail fraud and was sentenced to five years' probation and 180 days of home confinement; and Wisler Cyrius, 35, Naples, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to launder money. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 13.

The FBI was among several agencies that investigated the case. Others included the IRS, Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Department of Health and others.

Insurance companies assisting in the case were Travelers, Nationwide, Bristol West, Esurance, Windhaven, Farmers, Direct General, Allstate, State Farm, Progressive, Geico, Infinity and Foremost.

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