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Jurors find four guilty in insurance fraud scheme

By CARRIE WEIMAR
Published November 17, 2006

TAMPA — Defense attorneys said their clients were unwitting victims of an FBI investigation gone wrong.

The prosecution said the defendants staged accidents for money — and there were tapes to prove it.

After deliberating for just over one day, jurors sided firmly with the government Friday, finding all four defendants guilty of all charges in a case called Operation Misplaced Trust.

As the verdict was read, tears flowed down the face of Denise St. Fleur, a Haitian immigrant who was found guilty of one count of conspiracy and one count of mail fraud.

She and the other Haitian defendants, Jean Maxie Ciril and Amos Odon, could receive up to 10 years in prison when they are sentenced Feb. 2.

But their real punishment will come after prison, when they face deportation back to their home country, said Lori Palmieri, Odon’s attorney.

"That's why they went to trial," Palmieri said. "They didn’t want to roll over and accept deportation without a fight."

Padron, a clinic owner who moved to Florida from Cuba, was found guilty of one charge of conspiracy and four counts of mail fraud and could be sentenced to 25 years in prison.

His lawyer, Richard Escobar, said he was disappointed by the verdict and plans to appeal.

"We are well prepared to argue this case in the appellate court and we will," Escobar said.

[Last modified November 17, 2006, 12:54:55]