Woman convicted in staged car accident scheme

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office booking photo of Hortensia Gonzalez

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hortensia Gonzalez, 53, was found guilty late Thursday of knowingly participating in an intentional motor vehicle crash and false insurance claims.

In 2012, the State Attorney’s Office and the Division of Insurance Fraud began investigating a series of staged accidents in Duval County. The investigation revealed that Gonzalez was involved in an insurance fraud scheme in which she and others participated in a fake car crash and then filed false Personal Injury Protection and Bodily Injury claims through rehab clinics.

Recommended Videos



Proscutores said the clinics were the mechanisms used to provide bogus treatment to the participants for their non-existent injuries.

Gonzalez faces up to 20 years in prison. She will be sentenced the week of Sept. 12.
 


Recommended Videos