Pair accused of insurance fraud in staged crash in Miami-Dade, records show

www.nbcmiami.com , NBC6 April 20, 2026

A man and woman are facing charges in connection with an alleged staged car crash in Miami-Dade that defrauded an insurance company out of tens of thousands of dollars, authorities said.

Yumilka Melendez-Pagan, 44, and Vidal Rojas-Balbas, 51, were arrested Monday on charges of insurance fraud/staged accident, Miami-Dade jail records showed.

According to arrest reports, the staged accident happened Aug. 4, 2025, in the area of Northwest 6th Avenue and 131st Street.

Melendez-Pagan told investigators another man arranged the crash to "make some extra money" and said they would be paid after they went to a clinic, the reports said.

She said they arrived and got out of vehicle before a man got in and crashed into a tree while they were standing by, the reports said.

The man got out and walked away and they called 911, the reports said.

Authorities arrived and they gave information as though they'd been involved in a crash, the reports said.

Rojas-Balbas said the other man paid him $1,000 for being involved in the crash, the report said.

They were supposed to undergo therapy at a clinic but apparently never did, the reports said.

Esurance was billed for therapy for the trio, with $17,870 billed for Melendez-Pagan and $10,865 paid out and $7,605 billed for Rojas-Balbas but $0 paid out, the reports said.

Another $27,103.99 was billed for the other man, with $20,071.80 paid out, the reports said.

The reports didn't say whether that man was arrested or facing charges.

Melendez-Pagan and Rojas-Balbas were booked into jail and appeared before a judge who set their bonds at $5,000 each, although Rojas-Balbas has an immigration hold.

News article: Pair accused of insurance fraud in staged crash in Miami-Dade, records show – NBC 6 South Florida