Alleged scammers burn Miami-Dade fire department from within

South Florida is no stranger to insurance fraud.

But a recently exposed scam involving public workers is sure to leave taxpayers seething and give Miami-Dade's bravest a black eye.

Anthony Dorta, a fire inspector with the county's Fire Rescue Department was arrested last week, accused of submitting a bogus insurance claim.

While claiming he couldn't work due to a knee injury suffered on the job, Dorta raked in $143,000 in benefits.

But according to a county inspector general's memo, Dorta also was painting houses and repairing interior walls, and was observed painting the floor of a warehouse by another fire department employee who was conducting an inspection.

James Quiggle, communications director for the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit alliance of insurance companies, consumer groups and government agencies, told Watchdog.org the case is not surprising.

"South Florida is one of the nation's epicenters for insurance fraud," Quiggle said.

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