Ex-COO’s killing renews scrutiny of Coral Springs company in alleged $91M scam
A Coral Springs health insurance company is facing serious repercussions for an alleged scam as questions mount following the killing of its former chief operations officer.
Innovative Partners LP, based on University Drive, has sold healthcare plans since 2023. While it markets itself as providing standard, wide-coverage health insurance, its plans charge hundreds of dollars per month for nominal discounts on common health items, Federal Trade Commission officials say.
After years of investigation and thousands of pages of victim interviews, the case — filed about two months ago — is moving forward in the Southern District of Florida.
Meanwhile, a separate Boca Raton homicide investigation centers on the targeted killing of a possible whistleblower.
Here’s what we know.
Millions stolen, feds say
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed its lawsuit against Innovative Partners and its affiliates on April 7. Officials allege the company used deceptive web-, text- and call-based tactics to impersonate existing insurance providers and state and federal health insurance marketplaces to trick customers.
The business purported to provide comprehensive coverage for a low monthly fee, when in reality, the plans only covered a fraction of healthcare costs, according to the government’s complaint.
FTC attorneys filed thousands of pages of examples from victims across the country.
Experts estimated that the companies collected approximately $91 million from consumers in connection with the alleged scheme.
“One consumer who paid nearly $3,000 in premiums to Innovative Partners over the course of one year received a mere $750 in payouts while accruing more than $80,000 in medical debt for care that Defendants’ downline telemarketer had falsely promised would be covered,” the suit says.
“Another consumer was forced to stop taking his prescription medications for a serious disease after discovering that the associated costs were hundreds of dollars higher than what the telemarketer had quoted during the sales call for those precise medications.”
Owners Ahmed and Amani Ibrahim Shokry were also named in the suit.
Attorneys alleged that work is split between the siblings. Ahmed Shokry controls the business, its affiliates and several shell companies used to funnel millions of dollars back to the family, while Amani Shokry manages its call centers.
One day after the filing, the company’s former chief operating officer — and possible whistleblower — was shot and killed in a Boca Raton parking lot.
Who was Arman Motiwalla?
Arman Motiwalla ran a telemarketing company when, in mid-2023, he was approached about becoming Innovative Partners’ COO, according to court documents.
Motiwalla, 37, worked there until he was fired in January 2025. He filed a lawsuit that summer alleging he was fired in retaliation for his refusal to engage in illegal activity on the business’ behalf, reporting that activity to upper management and cooperating with California investigators looking into the company’s activities.
In a counterclaim, attorneys for the business claimed that Motiwalla was behind the fraudulent activity at Innovative Partners, manipulating staff and upper management for his financial gain.
Statements a former employee made to the Federal Trade Commission early in its investigation, in contrast, alleged Motiwalla and Armani Shokry worked together to pressure workers to keep customers from canceling their plans and convince employees to sign non-disclosure agreements about the business’ activities.
Who killed Arman Motiwalla?
On April 7, a surveillance camera at 350 Camino Gardens Blvd. in Boca Raton captured a damaged and heavily tinted silver Chrysler 200 pull into a parking space not far from where Motiwalla’s Mercedes was parked.
Around 8:24 p.m., Motiwalla was captured running toward his car, which was just outside the security camera’s view, according to police. A shadowy figure then exited the passenger side of the Chrysler and disappeared in the same direction.
Motiwalla’s Apple Watch recorded his last heartbeat at approximately 8:25 p.m., records state. He was found shot to death in the early hours of April 8, next to his car.
According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, federal officials raided the company’s Coral Springs office a week later. They found computers had been wiped or removed from the premises and documents thrown in a dumpster. Others may have been taken via U-Haul, the outlet reported.
Police have not found any connections between the lawsuit and the killing.
Boca Raton police have since arrested 42-year-old Willie Byrd Jr. and charged him with Motiwalla’s murder.
Officials say he owns the silver Chrysler observed in security footage, and that they traced his cellphone to the parking lot where Motiwalla was killed.
A search of the vehicle revealed additional evidence, according to court documents. That included a note with the victim’s name, his fiancée’s name and locations Motiwalla frequented, including the Camino Gardens Boulevard address.
Police also said they believed Byrd coordinated the killing with a second person, who was present for the crime.
Authorities urge anyone with information to call (561) 620-6175.
