Today is the 3rd of March, 2026, and the ongoing saga surrounding a fraudulent insurance school in Virginia Gardens continues to unfold. Nearly two years after the initial arrests in this case, twelve more individuals have been apprehended in connection with the D&R Academy, located at 6405 NW 36th St. near Miami International Airport. This fraudulent operation has drawn significant attention from law enforcement and the public alike, as it highlights the darker side of the insurance industry.

The first arrests were reported back in June 2024, when Florida’s then-Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, condemned the allegations as “appalling.” Rainier Miguel Salas, aged 61, was accused of running the school and has been linked to the manipulation of at least 820 insurance examinations. In 2025, Salas pleaded guilty to charges of forgery and organized fraud, resulting in community control and probation, although several other charges were dropped.

Recent Developments and Arrests

The latest group of twelve co-defendants includes:

  • Jose Avendano, 64, Doral
  • Iliana Bedoya Cuadros, 53, Palm Springs
  • Yilliam Bruzon Betancourt, 37, Louisville, Kentucky
  • Danny Cabrera Martinez, 47, Hialeah
  • Tamara Ferriol Gomez, 27, West Miami
  • Rafael Green Fuentes, 42, West Miami-Dade
  • Ruben Lopez, 35, Southwest Miami-Dade
  • Robinson Lopez Tiberio, 55, Coral Springs
  • Jorge Machado, 39, Southwest Miami-Dade
  • Jeniffer Mieres Serrano, 25, Southwest Miami-Dade
  • Jose Dario Moreno, 39, Doral
  • Cynthia Pinto, 40, Miami

All of these individuals are accused of knowingly utilizing illegal services to fraudulently obtain insurance licenses between 2023 and 2024. The charges against them include organized schemes to defraud, and Cynthia Pinto faces more serious allegations, including extortion. She is accused of recruiting members for her sales team and demanding between $1,500 and $2,000 from each licensee.

Investigators connected the suspects through digital evidence, including WhatsApp messages from the initial investigation. All suspects were processed at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where they remained detained as of Tuesday afternoon. Notably, some face additional immigration holds beyond the criminal charges.

The Role of Diana Nodarse Cruz

In a related development, Diana Nodarse Cruz, 36, from Miami Lakes, was arrested due to her involvement in fraudulent activities surrounding the state’s insurance licensing system. She was taken into custody by agents from the Florida Department of Financial Services and is facing six charges, including racketeering and conspiracy. Cruz and her husband, Rainier M. Salas Sr., operated an illegal enterprise from 2021 to 2023, which included D&R Financial, D&R Academy, and D&R Insurance.

Manipulating over 800 examinations, Cruz and Salas Sr. created a scheme that involved online profiles at state-authorized insurance schools and charged students hefty fees—$400 for a Florida 2-15 life and health license and around $2,500 for a Florida 2-20 property and casualty examination. They even established testing accounts and conducted examinations remotely, using unauthorized computers.

Systematic Fraud and Its Implications

The broader implications of this case are significant. An internal investigation revealed that numerous examinations were conducted from six unauthorized computers, leading to the suspension of licenses based on a list of registrants who participated in the fraudulent exams. Some registrants admitted to paying between $400 and $2,500 to have someone take the exam for them. This level of manipulation raises serious questions about the integrity of the insurance licensing process in Florida.

As authorities continue to unravel this web of deceit, the community remains on high alert about the potential ramifications of organized fraud in various sectors. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in maintaining the integrity of professional licensing and the ongoing battle against organized crime.

For more detailed insights on this case, you can read the full article at Local 10 News and additional coverage at CBS News.