TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida’s Chief Financial Officer announced the arrest of four more people in a scheme to defraud the Sunshine State out of $1.7 million.
The four arrests come after six other arrests were made in the same investigation, where Florida officials say a state employee processed more than 220 bogus property damage claims that siphoned approximately $1.7 million from taxpayers. Investigators called the scheme one of the state’s most brazen internal fraud schemes in recent years.
See also: Indicted Congresswoman says Republicans trying to steal her seat
State officials say the individuals are accused of filing fraudulent property damage claims through the Florida Division of Risk Management. Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia made the announcement while he was on The Bottom Line on Fox Business.
“I said it before, and I’ll say it again: if you steal from Florida taxpayers, you will go to jail. I promised that my investigators would be making more arrests in this case, and I am proud to announce that we have delivered on that promise. If you try to steal from the taxpayers of Florida, it is not a question of IF we will find you; it is simply when. As CFO, I will continue to root out waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer funds at every level,” Ingolia said.
The arrests include:
Shelton Allen – Grand Theft, Cashing or Depositing Item with Intent to DefraudLatasha Belford – Grand Theft, Cashing or Depositing Item with Intent to DefraudCervantes Galloway – Grand TheftNi’jah Johnson- Grand Theft, Cashing or Depositing Item with Intent to Defraud
The four arrests bring the total to ten in the $1.7 million fraud scheme.
The Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division (CID) is looking for Curtis McClendon in connection to the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact CID at 850-508-7827.