A Dade City man has been charged for allegedly securing more than $1.9 million in emergency funds from a federal coronavirus (COVID-19) relief program and using the money to purchase luxury vehicles.
Keith William Nicoletta, 48, was charged with bank fraud and illegal monetary transactions. The press did not name an attorney for him.
Four Florida men have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a million-dollar unemployment benefits fraud scheme in Rhode Island.
James Legerme, 29, of Sunrise; Junior Mertile, 30, of Pembroke Pines; Tony Mertile, 28, of Miramar; and Irvin Vilneus, 28, of North Lauderdale were arrested on Tuesday and face several charges, including bank fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, theft of public money, access device fraud, and money laundering. Police are reportedly searching for a fifth suspect, Allen Bien-Aime, 29, of Lehigh Acres, who was also involved in the alleged scheme. It is unclear if any of the individuals has acquired an attorney.
Owner Everardo Borettini of EFC Construction Corporation faces charges of fraud for a scheme to avoid paying workers’ compensation premiums. Borettini, who pled not guilty in Dade County after being arrested on September 23, 2020, is being charged with grand theft, organized scheme to defraud, and workers’ compensation premium fraud. He faces 25 years in prison or more.
The investigation into the case was carried out by the Florida Bureau of Investigative and Forensic Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation Fraud. Borettini had claimed only $68,648, or 4% of his payroll, when the company had actually more than $1.5 million payroll. The difference of $95,000 in premiums could have placed his employees in jeopardy when attempting to file workers’ compensation claims in the future.
Two Broward lawyers were arrested last week for their alleged involvement in a $750,000 scheme to defraud unwitting property owners of foreclosure surplus checks.
Rashisa Overby, 46, and Ria Sankar-Balram, 40, were arrested on Monday and face multiple counts of fraud, money laundering, grand theft, among other charges. Sankar-Balram was released on $57,000 bond. Overby, who was charged with several more counts, remains held in lieu of $140,000 bond. It is unclear if they have acquired legal representation.
10 South Florida residents and one Boston man have been charged in Fort Lauderdale federal court for their alleged role in a massive nationwide telemedicine scheme that bilked insurance companies out of millions of dollars for unnecessary prescription medication. They are accused of soliciting patients, prescribing them unneeded compound medications for purported injuries, and then billing their health insurance providers for the unnecessary services. It is unclear if any of the defendants has hired an attorney.
Criminal Defense and Civil Forfeiture Blog