MCALLEN, TEXAS (AP) -- Federal authorities have arrested 32 south Texas residents in what they describe as a wide-ranging fraud scheme that bilked insurer AFLAC out of $3 million over a decade.
The 32 -- including a police officer, teachers and county employees -- are accused of making fraudulent minor injury claims.
A Justice Department statement Friday said they bought accident insurance and with the connivance of two Reynosa, Mexico, doctors filed minor injury claims thought too small to draw suspicion.
In return, the border-city doctors received small kickbacks.
Prosecutors say the 32 submitted about 21,600 fraudulent claims between July 2001 and April 2010.
If convicted, each could face up to 20 years in prison for each count of conspiracy and wire fraud. Some indictments remain partially sealed, so more arrests are expected.
Name Age City of Residence
Indictment #1
Lucila Alcala 40 Edinburg, Texas
Lilly Perez 32 La Villa, Texas
Desiree Rodriguez 34 Edinburg, Texas
Jose D. Rodriguez 27 Edinburg, Texas
Steven Betancourt 39 Edinburg, Texas
Maria C. Alaniz 39 Elsa, Texas
Patricia Cerda-Flores 44 Palmview, Texas
Dalia Cerda-Delgado 39 Palmview, Texas
Leonor B. Salinas 46 Elsa, Texas
Maria Guzman 40 Edinburg, Texas
Rebecca Castillo 41 Edinburg, Texas
Ninfa Reyes 38 Edcouch, Texas
Noemi Villareal 60 Edinburg, Texas
Indictment #2
Idaleen Sanchez 34 Edinburg, Texas
Norma Sanchez 41 Edinburg, Texas
Valerio Ramos 55 Edinburg, Texas
Jose Guerra, Jr. 37 La Joya, Texas
Eddie Guerra 34 Alamo, Texas
Indictment #3
Mary Cedillo 65 Edinburg, Texas
Martha Ortega 57 McAllen, Texas
Yolanda Segovia 55 McAllen, Texas
Candida Chavez 34 McAllen, Texas
Lori Chavez 30 McAllen, Texas
Anissa Chavez 31 McAllen, Texas
Homer Cedillo, Jr. 41 Edinburg, Texas
Indictment #4
Norma Flores 54 Palmview, Texas
Nora Palacios 53 La Joya, Texas
Georgina Flores 33 Mission, Texas
Indictment #5
Nancy Rodriguez 31 Pharr, Texas
Maria Cantu 56 McAllen, Texas
Indictment #6
Beatriz Carreon 42 Edinburg, Texas
Indictment #7
Minerva Murguia 43 Sullivan City, Texas
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