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Crime

  • 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
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • December 17, 2023
Former state prosecutor arrested in $100K fraud case with 85-year-old victim

Sherry Lee Ellis, 65, is charged with stealing nearly $113,000 from her Alzheimer's patient boyfriend.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • November 6, 2023
Bradenton woman heads to prison for nine years for $9.75M scam

Lori Ann Nademus used ill-gotten gains on luxury residences, high-end clothes, jewelry and more, FBI officials alleged.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Mark Gordon
  • October 24, 2023
Fort Myers resident sentenced to two years in prison for COVID relief fraud

Denis Casseus was also ordered to forfeit nearly $300,000.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • July 17, 2023
Tampa school's former business manager sentenced in $1.1M tuition scam

The Largo man was charged by federal prosecutors for scheming to move tuition payments into personal accounts and giving false information to get more than $1 million in mortgages.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • July 10, 2023
Sarasota restaurant owner admits to IRS scheme, faces prison time

The co-owners of Boatyard Waterfront Bar and Grill in Sarasota hid $725,000 in sales from the IRS, according to court records.

  • Manatee-Sarasota
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • June 16, 2023
Fort Myers couple arrested for $2 million COVID fraud

The couple faces more than 20 years in prison for allegedly falsifying 11 relief applications and using the proceeds for, among other things, a pickup truck and three pontoon boats for themselves.

  • Charlotte–Lee–Collier
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • May 1, 2023
Polk County university official behind payments scam sent to prison

The executive vice president at Southeastern University created a false company to take payments for work another company did for much less money.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • April 26, 2023
Construction firm owner heads to prison for multimillion-dollar IRS, insurance fraud

The Polk County woman pleaded guilty last year to a scheme that included underpaying undocumented workers and misleading insurers.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
  • For Subscribers Only
    By
  • Louis Llovio
  • April 4, 2023
Former St. Pete Salvation Army employee charged in embezzlement-related scheme

Prosecutors say the payroll employee doctored records in order to collect paychecks for people no longer working in the organization.

  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 »
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