Undercover Operation Unravels Alleged Broken Tooth Scam

USA: An alleged tooth scam involving three South Florida women was thwarted by undercover detectives. The incident unfolded at the Avocado Cafe in West Palm Beach, where the suspects, using fake dental bills and aliases, attempted to pull off their scheme.

The Claim and the Counterfeit Invoice

The saga began when one of the women, posing as “Elaine Sanders,” reported biting down on a rock in her salad, resulting in a supposed tooth injury. Subsequently, she filed a claim, accompanied by a nearly $9,000 dental invoice from a clinic in Coral Springs. 

However, investigations revealed that “Elaine” was, in fact, Ann Sherry Miller, 45, from Aventura, and her accomplice, “Stacey Wells,” was Sheila Angelina Miller, 36, from Hollywood.

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The dental invoice presented by the women proved to be counterfeit, as the actual owner of Coral Dental Care disavowed any knowledge of a patient named “Elaine Sanders.” Moreover, the medical records provided did not align with those maintained by the dental clinic.

Undercover Sting Operation

Law enforcement took decisive action by initiating an undercover operation. On September 27, they posed as restaurant owners, luring the suspects back to the Avocado Cafe under the guise of settling a $6,000 payment for the alleged dental treatment. West Palm Beach Police spokesperson Mike Jachles described the operation, stating, “The lead detective… assumed the role of the restaurant owner, greeted the women and met with them at the restaurant.”

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Authorities disclosed that this wasn’t the first time these women attempted such a scheme. Jachles urged potential victims to come forward, saying, “We’re looking for anybody else that might be a victim to this, to come forward notify the West Palm Beach police or your local police agency if it’s not from our city.”

Legal Consequences

The legal fallout from the incident includes charges against Sheila Angelina Miller for grand theft and fraudulent use of personal identification information. Ann Sherry Miller faces charges of fabrication of documents and grand theft, while Mary Steimberg, 51, of Hollywood, who was part of the alleged scheme, has been charged with larceny, grand theft, and fraud.