South Florida

Doral Public Service Aide Accused of Towing Kickback Scheme

A Doral public service aide who should have been helping accident victims in their time of need was part of a scheme to put money in his own pocket and others, authorities said.

The FBI believes its a problem across South Florida: illegal operations where those working for law enforcement use that access at traffic accidents to divert business to tow truck operators and body shops and end up getting a cut.

The Doral public service aide allegedly responding to an accident called tow truck operators who should have never been contacted and it's just the tip of the iceberg, officials say.

Leonardo Mayi is the man the FBI says participated in an illegal operation that took advantage of his employment as a public service aide with Doral police when he was responding to traffic accidents.

Mayi, who was first hired in 2010, is now facing federal charges including wire fraud and the bribery of a public official. He has resigned from his job in Doral and is due in court in the coming weeks. His attorney didn't respond to NBC 6 Monday.

Prosecutors say Mayi was contacting tow truck companies who weren't even on the list to respond to accident scenes.

The FBI says when the damaged vehicles were taken to body shops, the tow truck companies would get kickbacks and pass along funds to Mayi. The feds say they have Mayi on recorded conversations with tow truck operators directing traffic.

In one case says he's allegedly heard saying: "There's one that has to go. They're at fault. The other one I think you should take it too, come fast."

The FBI says Mayi opened the door for other police workers in Doral including sworn officers to get involved but none did. Two even walked away from gift cards for several hundred dollars handed to them.

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