Rumbass nightclub owner, brother get 9 years in prison for $3M fraud

Jan. 25--The owner of Rumbass nightclub and his brother have been sentenced to 9-year prison terms for their roles in what federal prosecutors described as a $3 million staged accident scheme that ripped off dozens of insurance companies.

Janio and Jharildan "Harold" Vico were sentenced Thursday after a nearly all-day hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg. She also ordered Janio Vico, 32, who owns the dance club at Military Trail and Southern Boulevard, west of West Palm Beach, and his 34-year-old brother to pay $1.9 million in restitution.

A jury in October convicted the Lake Worth area brothers of 16 charges, including money laundering and mail fraud, in connection with V&V Rehabilitation, a clinic they operated from 2009 to 2011 on 10th Avenue North near Boutwell Road.

Prosecutors claimed the clinic was a sham. They said no real treatment was offered and few of the patients who went there were actually injured.

The two brothers were taking advantage of the state law that requires Florida drivers to carry personal injury protection insurance and insurers to pay up to $10,000 for each person injured in a crash, a jury found.

The brothers hired people to get involved in traffic accidents, then billed insurance companies for treatment their clients either didn't need or didn't receive.

The key to the operation was a chiropractor, who allowed the brothers to use her license to operate the clinic. The chiropractor, Jennifer Adams, was previously convicted, and testified against the brothers during the three-week trial.

Lawyers representing the Vicos say the clinic was a legitimate health care operation and have vowed to appeal the verdict.

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