Several more people, including two former state employees, have been arrested in connection with an alleged scam involving bogus vehicle damage claims that led the state of Florida to pay out more than $1.7 million.
The alleged ringleader, Briana McCarthy, who worked as a program specialist for the Florida Department of Financial Services, was arrested Jan. 27 on a host of charges, including white collar crime against a state agency, grand theft, money laundering, solicitation and conspiracy and official misconduct.
Between 2021 and 2024, she allegedly approved fraudulent claims for vehicles that were purportedly damaged on state roads, splitting the proceeds with others. All told, she signed off on 224 phony claims worth more than $1.7 million. Authorities say she also recruited others to participate and altered or submitted fraudulent documents for them…