Miami Boat Captain Charged with Insurance Fraud Over Sinking of $1.8M Yacht
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A Miami boat captain has been arrested on a first-degree grand theft charge for allegedly sinking a $1.86 million yacht in 2009 off the Bahamas.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced the arrest of Robert Figueredo by detectives from the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF).
“There is no such thing as a victimless crime,” CFO Atwater said. “Those who reap the spoils of perpetuating fraud victimize every Florida consumer. Those who cheat their fellow Floridians out of their hard-earned dollars will be captured and put behind bars.”
The division initiated an investigation into the sinking of the 80-foot yacht “Star One” reported stolen from Key Biscayne on May 4, 2009, one day after it was discovered scuttled in an area known as the “Tongue of the Ocean” offshore from the Bahamas.
Atwater said suspicions of Figueredo’s involvement were initially raised by a statement from Figueredo’s ex-girlfriend, who told police that he had bragged to her that he had sunk the boat deliberately.
Figueredo gave a sworn statement to the insurance company that he had no knowledge of the theft, and he was completely unaware of who had taken the Star One, according to officials. Federated Insurance Co. received the claim for the sunken boat.
Figueredo was booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail. If convicted on the charge, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle is prosecuting the charge.
