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Crime

  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • October 8, 2024
Feds arrest Lee County resident, indict another for COVID fraud

Two Lehigh Acres men are facing decades in prison in unrelated cases that involve allegations of defrauding the Small Business Administration.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • September 17, 2024
Sarasota man charged with smuggling electronics into Russia

The microelectronics had military applications, prosecutors say.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • September 10, 2024
Lee County man sentenced to prison for $118K COVID loan fraud

Multiple loans were taken out under false names.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • August 29, 2024
Port Charlotte CEO sentenced to federal prison for defrauding NASA

The CEO of Gulf Atlantic International Supply had pleaded guilty to wire fraud for submitting falsified documents to the space agency.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • August 14, 2024
Tampa man gets three years in prison for Covid-era wire fraud

He received his sentence after being convicted in May.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Laura Lyon
  • July 19, 2024
Pair of COVID-19 loan fraud arrests made in Tampa Bay

Two busts are the latest attempts at reclaiming millions in relief funds.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 14, 2024
Florida business owner charged with running human trafficking ring

The attorney general highlighted a human trafficking case out of spas in Manatee and Hillsborough counties in pointing to the need for a newly formed state task force.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • June 11, 2024
COVID fraud lands Riverview, Fort Myers men in federal prison

Two men were sentenced to federal prison this week in separate cases stemming from criminal charges for using ill-gotten COVID relief fraud for personal use.

  • Florida
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 17, 2024
Bradenton cabinet company partner sentenced to prison in fraud case

The former president of a cabinet company collected money and never delivered products to dozens of her clients, police alleged.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 14, 2024
Sarasota business owner sent to prison for real estate fraud

Jose “Jay” Manuel Santiago, who owned Santiago & Sons Construction in Sarasota and was an HOA president, is involved in two separate fraud cases.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • April 24, 2024
$400K theft from organization helping seniors lands woman in prison

A 49-year-old woman was sentenced to prison Tuesday for stealing from a business that provided HVAC and other maintenance services to residents of Sun City Center.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • March 18, 2024
Nearly $1M paycheck tax scheme lands Fort Myers businessman in prison

The owner of a Fort Myers company that sold phone cards to prisoners is heading to prison himself for not paying IRS tax money collected from employee paychecks.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • March 6, 2024
Tampa college official, co-conspirator convicted of embezzling aid for students

The two are facing at least 20 years in federal prison for a scheme that cost local unnamed college hundreds of thousands of dollars.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • February 28, 2024
Ex-official with Bradenton shark research nonprofit arrested in $300K theft

Christine Bedore, a former treasurer with the American Elasmobranch Society, has been arrested for allegedly stealing at least $300,000 from the Bradenton nonprofit.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • February 10, 2024
Former Manatee County administrator charged with three felonies

The State Attorney's Office will pursue three third-degree felony charges against Scott Hopes.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »
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