FLORIDA — The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has arrested seven individuals for their alleged involvement in fraudulently obtaining, distributing and selling around 700 disabled person parking placards.
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The FHP Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence (BCII) announced the arrests on Friday. Warrants for arrest are active for four more suspects.
According to the FHP, its investigation began in February 2023, when the Liberty County Tax Collector’s Office contacted the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) after learning that a large number of placards were reportedly applied for and issued to one individual within their county on behalf of multiple persons residing in South Florida.
Florida law states that individuals submitting a request for a disabled person parking placard must provide FLHSMV an application signed by a Certifying Medical Authority. BCII said it contacted the listed medical authority, a retired pediatrician, and found the doctor had no knowledge or involvement in the fraudulent use of his name.
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“These placards are reserved for Floridians with mobility issues, and it is extremely infuriating that the defendants exploited this state-run program,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody.
“It’s even more disheartening that there were hundreds of buyers eager to pay for the ill-gotten privilege to essentially steal parking spots from people with disabilities.”
According to the FHP, during its investigation, analysts discovered online content advertising the group’s ability to procure disabled person parking permits for those who had a “long walk to class” or were “tired of parking in the back.”
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Due to the large number of placards applied for, issued, and sold, investigators said they believed others were involved in this scheme to profit. As a result of the investigation, the following individuals were arrested for their involvement with charges including Scheme to Defraud, Money Laundering, Criminal Use of Personal Identification Number, and Uttering a Forged Instrument:
- Norman Caison
- Dislaisis Alfonso
- Yendry Toboso
- Blandine Sermon
- Indya Murphy
- Lateshia Swann
- Nicole Senelin
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Additional suspects remain at large, with active warrants for their arrest; they are:
- Eryn Cheeley
- Corey Martin
- Maiya Cosby
- Rykiah Kendrick
If you have information about this case or know the location of the suspects, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the FHP Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Intelligence at 850-617-2302.
