A major insurance bust is under way across Miami-Dade County.

State investigators are arresting people suspected of staging accidents and then making false insurance claims.

So far, about 21 people have been arrested. The state's chief financial officer, Tom Gallagher, accompanied arresting officers on some of the busts.

Gallagher said the targeted group would pretend to be involved in car accidents and with the help of certain area medical clinics scammed 11 insurance companies out of $1 million.

The group's reputed ringleader is 53-yr old Wilfred Cyriaque, according to investigators. He's charged with more than 100 counts of insurance fraud and grand theft charges.

Investigators expect to arrest a total of 39 people before they are through.

Under a law passed in 2003 to try to stop claims based on staged accidents, if convicted, members of the group face minimum two-year prison sentences.