Jacksonville Chiropractor Indicted in Staged Car Accident Scheme

JACKSONVILLE, FL—United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces the return by the grand jury of a superseding indictment charging Jacksonville chiropractor Richie Cabigting (35), along with Haidar Kazim (28), Kassem Kazim (31), and Todd Jackson (26), all of Jacksonville, with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, in connection with a staged car accident scheme. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States intends to forfeit $193,002.62, which was seized from a Compass Bank account and is alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense.

According to the indictment, Haidar Kazim recruited individuals to participate in staged and fraudulent car accidents. Haidar Kazim and Kassem Kazim instructed the participants on how to conduct the crashes and what to tell responding police officers. Cabigting, a chiropractor and owner of ChiroMed Plus LLC, located in Jacksonville, provided money to Haidar Kazim to pay the “at fault” drivers, including Todd Jackson, in the staged car accidents. The staged accident participants were then allegedly “treated” at ChiroMed Plus LLC by Cabigting, who knew that the participants did not need treatment. Insurance companies were then fraudulently billed for services.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Financial Services. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie Hackenberry Savell.