The owner of a physical therapy clinic in southwest Miami-Dade’s Westchester area, Nancy Cajuso, 46, along with five others, faces a series of felony charges in what authorities describe as a staged crash insurance fraud scheme. This operation was part of an undercover investigation conducted by state authorities.
Cajuso owns the Millennium Rehabilitation Center located at 7815 Coral Way. Among those arrested is physical therapist Ilana Suarez-Castillo, 52, of Miami Beach, and Lemuel Guerra, 44, from southwest Miami-Dade. Also facing charges are Modesto Marias-Crespo, 58, Francisco Crespo-Sevilla, 51, and Miguel Mendez-Linares, 52. However, their names, charges, or mug shots were not available in Miami-Dade jail or court records as of Thursday evening.
The Florida Bureau of Insurance Fraud investigated the case, which involved at least one confidential witness. According to the investigators, Marias-Crespo initially attempted to stage a crash on September 19, 2023, but struggled to find a responsible vehicle. Undeterred, he managed to orchestrate a wreck on September 28 at the intersection of Southwest 87th Avenue and West Flagler Street, directing those involved on what to do.
Crespo-Sevilla was the at-fault driver, while Mendez-Linares and the confidential witness occupied the other vehicle. The following day, the confidential witness met with Marias-Crespo, Mendez-Linares, and Guerra at the clinic, where Guerra instructed the witness on the fraudulent process, telling them they would need to visit the clinic several times a week to maintain appearances.
Cajuso allegedly provided the two with medical paperwork and 40 blank therapy forms to sign, despite no actual therapy being conducted. Later, Suarez-Castillo would demonstrate the physical therapy machines to the witness in case the insurance company made inquiries. These fake therapy sessions reportedly lasted no more than 15 minutes each.
Together, the witness and Mendez-Linares defrauded Nationwide Insurance of over $37,000 through 37 billed visits to the clinic. Cajuso, Guerra, and Suarez-Castillo were arrested on Thursday, each facing two counts of solicitation of false insurance claims, two counts of organized scheme to defraud, and one count of second-degree grand theft. Guerra faces additional charges of patient brokering and money laundering.
As of Thursday evening, Cajuso and Suarez-Castillo remained jailed on a $5,000 bond, while Guerra was held on a $13,500 bond.
