A West Tampa, Fla., medical clinic was raided and shut down, and four people were charged with racketeering offenses, as Florida officials continue to combat staged auto accidents and bogus medical clinics.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office raided Medical Rehab Choice earlier this month as part of a three-month undercover probe into staged car crashes and medical clinic fraud. Investigators uncovered evidence that people involved in staging auto accidents were associated with the clinic, and also found discrepancies in medical bills submitted to auto insurers for treatments that supposedly occurred, according to a statement from Direct General Insurance Co., which is supporting law enforcement efforts.

Jacqueline Rosales, 27, a receptionist, and Sugeidi Serrano, 32, a licensed medical technician, were arrested during the raid on charges of operating a racketeering influenced corrupt organization (RICO), according to the statement.

Others facing RICO charges in connection with the alleged scheme include Juan Martinez, 28, the clinic manager, and Ernie Azucey, 25, also a licensed medical technician, the statement said. The racketeering charges the four face are similar to those that law enforcement agencies often file against criminals involved in organized crime or drug trafficking rings.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office raid was part of an ongoing crackdown on staged car crashes and medical clinic fraud in West Central Florida that is being aided by Direct General Insurance Company, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), and other auto insurers and law enforcement agencies.

In April, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Direct General and others announced that an eight-month undercover probe dubbed “Operation Crash for Cash” had resulted in the arrests of more than 50 people and investigations into four medical clinics.

Then in May, the NICB announced that Florida ranked number one among all states for the number of staged accidents and questionable claims reported between 2007 and 2009. Tampa is now the second worst city in the United States for staged accidents, with reported crashes quadrupling in one year. Miami is the third worst city, and Orlando is fourth worst.

Direct General said in the statement it is taking a “zero tolerance” policy toward staged accidents and auto insurance fraud, and is working closely with law enforcement agencies to battle this fraud wave.