A Miami-Dade Police officer and his ex-wife are facing charges related to false insurance claims, officials said Tuesday.
Lt. Alexander Diaz de Villegas, 45, and 30-year-old Barbara Gonzalez, were arrested on charges including organized scheme to defraud, insurance fraud, and grand theft, according to an arrest warrant.
The warrant said the couple married in June 2015 but the marriage was dissolved in July 2016. In October 2016, Diaz de Villegas filed a police report claiming Gonzalez had forged his signature on documents related to a 2015 insurance claim for damages at his home, the warrant said.
He also claimed Gonzalez forged his signature on settlement checks issued by Citizens Property Insurance Corporation totaling more than $25,000, the warrant said. But during the investigation into his claims, Diaz de Villegas submitted a document that made "multiple admissions about his knowledge of the fraud that was perpetrated upon Citizens," the warrant said.
"At no time, once he learned of this fraud did subject Diaz de Villegas notify Citizens of the alleged fraud. On the contrary, he continued with the claims process and benefited financially from the fraud," the warrant said.
Diaz de Villegas was being held on $65,000 bond while Gonzalez was being held on $67,500 bond, jail records showed. Attorney information wasn't available.
"It's extremely disappointing when allegations of wrongdoing are made against any member of our agency. However, today's arrest serves to show that we take these matters seriously and will always rigorously investigate allegations against our personnel in the pursuit of justice. No one is above the law," Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez said in a statement.
