The Tampa insurance fraud ring began in the early 1990s, when a group of corrupt insurance adjusters and attorneys started working together to stage fake accidents and file false insurance claims. The ring would recruit individuals to participate in the schemes, often using vulnerable people such as the elderly and low-income individuals. The ring would then use the fake accidents and claims to bilk insurance companies out of millions of dollars. However, in 1997, a joint investigation by the FBI and the Florida Department of Insurance uncovered the ring and began making arrests. The investigation, which was one of the largest of its kind in Florida history, resulted in the conviction of over 100 individuals and the recovery of millions of dollars in fraudulent claims. The ring's leaders, including several prominent attorneys and insurance adjusters, received lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the scheme. The Tampa insurance fraud ring had a significant impact on the insurance industry in Florida, leading to increased scrutiny and regulation of insurance companies and adjusters.