Tow truck drivers, PSAs arrested in bribery/kickback case
Authorities: PSAs provided drivers with accident locations in exchange for thousands of dollars
MIAMI – Two former city of Miami public service aides and four tow trunk drivers were arrested Friday for allegedly participating in a kickback/bribery scheme.
The former PSAs were identified as Aristides Paulino, 31, and Keri Dixon, 27.
The tow truck drivers were identified as Jesus Tello, 29, Reinaldo Martin Cruz, 30, Ronald Alfaro, 27 and Michael Perez, 22.
According to federal authorities, the PSAs were paid thousands of dollars by the drivers over several years in exchange for providing them the locations of accidents obtained from police computer software programs.
Authorities said the tow truck drivers would arrive at the scene of accidents sometimes before police.
"If you are in an accident and a tow truck operator that you have not called arrives, know that you have the right to refuse that operator's service," said U.S. attorney Wilfredo Ferrer. "As the charges filed today demonstrate, we are committed to unraveling this scheme to bring those who target accident victims to justice."
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