Author Archives: Jay Butchko
New Florida Law Targets Home Title Fraud
How can someone steal a home without stealing a home? The answer is: Home Title Fraud. There are a growing number of cases involving criminals changing property titles, even if someone already lives in the home. A recent LexisNexis study found that mortgage fraud scams were up 51% last year. Often, the victims aren’t… Read More »
Central Florida Defendant Indicted on Charges of Seaman Manslaughter and PPP Fraud
An Ocala man has been indicted in federal court on charges of operating an illegal scuba charter business that allegedly caused the death of one person. He then used that business to make fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program claims. The 49-year-old suspect made an initial appearance in court on an indictment charging him with: One… Read More »
Florida Keys Tourism PR Head Facing 28 Criminal Charges
A Florida man whose public relations firm was tasked to help promote the Florida Keys to prospective visitors from around the world is now facing more than two dozen criminal charges over allegations that he made false statements concerning payments to a non-existent company. The criminal complaint against the defendant comes months after an… Read More »
Husband and Wife Charged with Unlawful Sexual Contact with a Minor
A Hillsborough County fire lieutenant and a former state attorney’s office employee have both been arrested and charged with unlawful sex with a minor, according to the state police. Deputies say that the couple, both of Riverview, forced a 16-year-old to engage in sexual acts on April 27. The arrest report says that the… Read More »
Hillsborough County Police Arrest Man on Retail Theft Charges
A Hillsborough County man has been arrested and charged with several crimes after perpetrating what police call “an organized scheme to defraud.” According to police, the defendant would swap barcodes out for cheaper items at Lowe’s and then sell the items on social media. The police have identified the man as a habitual offender…. Read More »
Riviera Beach Police Officer Faces Aggravated Battery Charges
A Riviera Beach police officer has resigned after being charged with aggravated battery in an incident that occurred while he was off duty. According to the arrest report, police say that in October 2023, the officer was off-duty when he responded to reports of a home theft in Riviera Beach. While searching for the… Read More »
Leon County Sheriff’s Office Arrests 13 Men for Sex Crimes Against Children During Sting Operation
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the arrest of 13 people in conjunction with a sting operation that lasted over the course of three days. Dubbed “Operation Spring Cleaning”, their efforts found that 170 people continued conversations with an individual they believed was a minor. The 13 who were arrested were those who… Read More »
Florida Can Now Seek the Death Penalty in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
In December 2023, Lake County, Florida prosecutors announced that they would seek the death penalty for a man accused of committing sexual battery against a minor under the age of 12. State Attorney William Gladson said that the decision reflects the “severity of the crime and its impact on the community.” Earlier that year,… Read More »
Ex-SBA Employee Implicated in COVID Loan Fraud
During the pandemic, the U.S. Small Business Administration saved thousands of small businesses by distributing interest-free loans and forgiving them if the money was spent on payroll or other business overhead. However, a former SBA employee from Miami has recently been charged with defrauding the very agency that she worked for. She is the… Read More »
9 Individuals From Florida and Ohio Are Facing Healthcare Fraud Charges
Healthcare fraud has become a hot-button issue in the U.S. lately. Generally speaking, it involves sophisticated schemes to fraud Medicare or Medicaid using various schemes to defraud. A recent news article reports that a Sarasota man is among 9 people from Florida and Ohio who are charged in connection with alleged schemes to defraud… Read More »
