DELRAY BEACH, Florida — A local body shop owner thought he could quietly swap out an expensive car part, forge a few documents, and walk away clean. He was wrong.
Devin Michael Simmons, 37, owner of Exotic Solutions in Delray Beach, was arrested Wednesday by the Florida Department of Financial Services on felony charges of organized fraud and filing a false and fraudulent insurance claim. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail and later released after posting a $10,000 bond.
How the scheme unfolded
The case started with a routine insurance claim. A Geico policyholder filed for damage to a 2012 Mercedes-Benz in November 2024. An adjuster inspected the vehicle and approved a factory OEM replacement hood — confirming no aftermarket or recycled options were available. Geico issued a payment of $14,086.25, with $6,240 specifically earmarked for that hood.
When the adjuster returned to inspect the finished repair, something was off. The hood on the car was not the factory part Geico had paid for. It was a cheaper aftermarket version.
Fake paperwork, then a confession
When confronted, Simmons submitted invoices claiming the OEM hood had been purchased. Investigators say those documents were fabricated. Mercedes-Benz of Delray confirmed to detectives that the part was never ordered or paid for — and that a related invoice had been canceled.
Simmons eventually admitted the OEM hood was not available at the time of the repair. He paid Geico $3,900 to cover the price difference before the claim closed.
It was not enough. The Department of Financial Services’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud pursued charges anyway, saying Simmons intentionally deceived the insurer and caused it financial harm.
Insurance fraud drives up premiums for everyone. When body shops game the system, honest customers pay the price.
Have you ever suspected a repair shop wasn’t giving you what you paid for? Share your experience in the comments.