IT IS SUNDAY, JULY 12TH. I’M NIKITA RAMOS WITH A LOOK AT YOUR NEWS TO GO TODAY. O’SHEA’S IRISH PUB IN WEST PALM BEACH WILL HOLD A MEMORIAL FOR A BELOVED EMPLOYEE KILLED IN A HIT AND RUN. POLICE SAY CONNOR BLAISE WAS RIDING A SCOOTER HOME AFTER HIS SHIFT LAST WEEK, WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A CAR THAT DROVE OFF. THERE ARE NO ARRESTS YET AND THE SEARCH FOR THE DRIVER STILL CONTINUES. THE MEMORIAL STARTS AT 4 P.M. TODAY AND DONATIONS WILL HELP SUPPORT HIS FAMILY. A BOYNTON BEACH POLICE OFFICER’S LEGACY IS BEING HONORED WITH A SPECIAL TRIBUTE. THE CITY CHANGED THE ADDRESS OF OFFICER JOSEPH KRAUTER PARK TO MATCH HIS BADGE NUMBER, 792. KRAUTER WAS A 14 YEAR VETERAN WHO DIED IN 2016 AFTER A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. HIS SON WILL SOON FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS IN BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER. THIS WEEK, PALM BEACH COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL DECIDE ON THE FUTURE OF PROJECT TANGO. THE VOTE WEDNESDAY COMES AFTER RESIDENTS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED AI DATA CENTERS, LOCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACTS AS WELL. THE COUNTY EXPECTS A LARGE CROWD AND WILL OPEN THE VISTA CENTER FOR ATTENDEES AND PUBLIC COMMENT. NIKKI. AND TODAY IS GOING TO BE A VERY HOT ONE FOR US HERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA. IMPACT WEATHER AS TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO BE CLIMBING MID TO UPPER 90S. FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURES WILL BE WELL INTO THE HUNDREDS BETWEEN 105 TO 109 THIS AFTERNOON. AND NOTICE OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS, THANKS TO SAHARAN DUST,
Six accused of construction payroll fraud ring in South Florida
They are accused of processing more than $95 million in checks during 2025 from West Palm Beach office.
Updated: 2:19 AM EDT Jul 13, 2026
Six people, including extended family members, are accused of operating a construction fraud ring that used 10 shell companies to conceal payroll, avoid workers’ compensation insurance premiums and operate unlicensed check-cashing businesses in South Florida.The operation was handled jointly by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Broward Sheriff’s Office Money Laundering Task Force. The complaint claims ringleader Marlen Suazo Gutierrez and several associates processed $95,664,451 in payroll checks during 2025, using workers’ compensation certificates obtained through allegedly fraudulent insurance applications and then renting those certificates to uninsured contractors. The proceeds were funneled through bank accounts, check-cashing businesses and an alleged unlicensed money service operation at 2601 S. Military Trail, Suite A7, before being distributed in cash to laborers. The location, which appeared to be vacant with signage to a shipping company, was part of a strip mall that included Presidente Supermarket.MLS Paralegal Services Building at 2601 S. Military Trail, was a front posing as a Paralegal Services Company owned and operated by Marlen L. Suazo Gutierrez.”This location in fact is being operated as an unregistered and Illegal Money Service Business and operations center for the ongoing Workers Compensation Fraud,” the arrest report reads.The 10 shell companies listed are JNJ Construction Services Inc., MDA Concrete Inc., JVC Interior Designs Inc., JYK Construction Concrete Inc., ACE Concrete & Pavers Inc., DMF Construction Services Inc., EVB Construction Services Inc., Wold Construction Services Inc., RPN Concrete Inc, JLVE Roofing Company Inc.The addresses are the same as MLS Paralegal Services Building except for JYK Construction Concrete Inc., which listed an address as 2844 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd, Unit IF in Port St. Lucie.The scheme was detailed in separate arrest reports that noted: “all related family members that are working in unison as an organized scheme to defraud conducting workers’ compensation fraud in excess of one hundred million dollars using money service business and US Bank Accounts.”The investigation included surveillance and detailed bank records.On Dec. 20, 2024, an investigation first found that JYK Construction Concrete Inc. processes payroll for several general contractors in Broward, Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie counties.Investigators seized nearly $2.9 million in currency, additional bank funds, and investment accounts, alleging the money was tied to organized fraud, workers’ compensation fraud, money laundering, and related crimes. Surveillance, financial records, payroll documents, and search warrants were cited as evidence supporting the forfeiture action.In June, the two county agencies established probable cause in a 205-page document to seize the accounts.Also arrested Thursday were:Gustavo Lara Suazo, 36, of Greenacres, the son of Marlen Suazo Gutierrez.Blanca Cecilia Ramirez Farina, 30, of Deerfield Beach.Alejandra Celeste Lagos Matute, 33, of Lake WorthErick Eduardo Blandon, 53, of Port St. LucieEduardo Leal Olivera, 30, of Ocala.Two other people associated with the companies are listed in the reports as disbursing funds, but there is no listing of an arrest.The charges include organized scheme to defraud, workers’ comp fraud ($100,000 or more), workers’ comp fraud ($20,000 or less), workers’ comp fraud ($100,000 or more), unlicensed money laundering service, In the scheme, investigators said the conspirators 5-10% of each check paid to the shell company and cashed for the contractor “renting” their Certificate of Workers Compensation Insurance.”To understand this scheme that uses cash paid laborers to avoid paying Workers’ Compensation Insurance premiums, it may help to understand some basic principles of the construction contract bidding/award system in Florida and how a ‘shell company’ is utilized in this scheme,” the report reads.”A ‘shell company’ can be defined as a company that is incorporated but has no significant assets, operations, and in many instances, their physical location is non-existent. In this scheme individuals establish corporations and acquire minimal Workers’ Compensation Insurance and Employers’ Liability Policies for them; the individuals controlling these ‘shell’ companies then offer the companies’ name and Certificates of Insurance for ‘rent’ to otherwise uninsured subcontractors to utilize for an established fee. This allows payroll to pass through the ‘shell companies’ undetected, as it is never reported to any entity for any purpose.”
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —
Six people, including extended family members, are accused of operating a construction fraud ring that used 10 shell companies to conceal payroll, avoid workers’ compensation insurance premiums and operate unlicensed check-cashing businesses in South Florida.
The operation was handled jointly by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Broward Sheriff’s Office Money Laundering Task Force.
The complaint claims ringleader Marlen Suazo Gutierrez and several associates processed $95,664,451 in payroll checks during 2025, using workers’ compensation certificates obtained through allegedly fraudulent insurance applications and then renting those certificates to uninsured contractors.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Offfice
Marlen Suazo Gutierrez is the alleged mastermind of payroll fraud.
The proceeds were funneled through bank accounts, check-cashing businesses and an alleged unlicensed money service operation at 2601 S. Military Trail, Suite A7, before being distributed in cash to laborers. The location, which appeared to be vacant with signage to a shipping company, was part of a strip mall that included Presidente Supermarket.
MLS Paralegal Services Building at 2601 S. Military Trail, was a front posing as a Paralegal Services Company owned and operated by Marlen L. Suazo Gutierrez.
“This location in fact is being operated as an unregistered and Illegal Money Service Business and operations center for the ongoing Workers Compensation Fraud,” the arrest report reads.
The 10 shell companies listed are JNJ Construction Services Inc., MDA Concrete Inc., JVC Interior Designs Inc., JYK Construction Concrete Inc., ACE Concrete & Pavers Inc., DMF Construction Services Inc., EVB Construction Services Inc., Wold Construction Services Inc., RPN Concrete Inc, JLVE Roofing Company Inc.
The addresses are the same as MLS Paralegal Services Building except for JYK Construction Concrete Inc., which listed an address as 2844 SW Port St. Lucie Blvd, Unit IF in Port St. Lucie.
The scheme was detailed in separate arrest reports that noted: “all related family members that are working in unison as an organized scheme to defraud conducting workers’ compensation fraud in excess of one hundred million dollars using money service business and US Bank Accounts.”
The investigation included surveillance and detailed bank records.
On Dec. 20, 2024, an investigation first found that JYK Construction Concrete Inc. processes payroll for several general contractors in Broward, Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie counties.
Investigators seized nearly $2.9 million in currency, additional bank funds, and investment accounts, alleging the money was tied to organized fraud, workers’ compensation fraud, money laundering, and related crimes. Surveillance, financial records, payroll documents, and search warrants were cited as evidence supporting the forfeiture action.
In June, the two county agencies established probable cause in a 205-page document to seize the accounts.
Also arrested Thursday were:
Gustavo Lara Suazo, 36, of Greenacres, the son of Marlen Suazo Gutierrez.
Blanca Cecilia Ramirez Farina, 30, of Deerfield Beach.
Alejandra Celeste Lagos Matute, 33, of Lake Worth
Erick Eduardo Blandon, 53, of Port St. Lucie
Eduardo Leal Olivera, 30, of Ocala.
Two other people associated with the companies are listed in the reports as disbursing funds, but there is no listing of an arrest.
The charges include organized scheme to defraud, workers’ comp fraud ($100,000 or more), workers’ comp fraud ($20,000 or less), workers’ comp fraud ($100,000 or more), unlicensed money laundering service,
In the scheme, investigators said the conspirators 5-10% of each check paid to the shell company and cashed for the contractor “renting” their Certificate of Workers Compensation Insurance.
“To understand this scheme that uses cash paid laborers to avoid paying Workers’ Compensation Insurance premiums, it may help to understand some basic principles of the construction contract bidding/award system in Florida and how a ‘shell company’ is utilized in this scheme,” the report reads.
“A ‘shell company’ can be defined as a company that is incorporated but has no significant assets, operations, and in many instances, their physical location is non-existent. In this scheme individuals establish corporations and acquire minimal Workers’ Compensation Insurance and Employers’ Liability Policies for them; the individuals controlling these ‘shell’ companies then offer the companies’ name and Certificates of Insurance for ‘rent’ to otherwise uninsured subcontractors to utilize for an established fee. This allows payroll to pass through the ‘shell companies’ undetected, as it is never reported to any entity for any purpose.”