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Insurance fraud, arson, falsification of asbestos reports – a recent case against Daniel Fern, president of Air Environment Research Services – a Florida consulting firm, alleges a little bit of everything. Fern was ultimately charged with defrauding an insurance company out of approximately half a million dollars and violating the Clean Air Act.
After an October 1993 fire destroyed part of the Monte Carlo Oceanfront Resort Hotel in Miami Beach, Fern was called in to assess the presence of asbestos at the resort. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agent Nelson Vazquez initiated a criminal investigation after concluding that the fire was an arson. It was subsequently discovered that Fern ordered one of his employees to falsify the air samples.
The complex scam commenced when an October 1993 fire caused damage to the first floor of the Monte Carlo Oceanfront Resort Hotel in Miami Beach. A criminal investigation was initiated after it was concluded that the fire was caused by arson.
Fern was contacted to test for the presence of asbestos at the resort. According to government allegations, Fern ordered Jerry Joyner, one of his employees, to falsify test results. The government further alleges that, according to Fern, the owner of the Monte Carlo Resort Hotel had the building burned down and agreed to give the appearance that the entire building was contaminated with asbestos. This would allow the pair to cash in on a $2 million insurance policy issued by Lexington Insurance Company, as well as perhaps a $4 million policy from a secondary carrier, General Star.
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