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FDLE arrests man in identify theft scheme targeting teachers

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One suspect still at large

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Office of Executive Investigations, with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, arrested Ralph Alonso Everett Jr. of Miami for organized scheme to defraud, reemployment assistance fraud and criminal use of personal identification. A second man, Isaiah Lewis also of Miami, is at large. The pair is accused of stealing the identities of teachers statewide and using their information to collect unemployment benefits.

The investigation began in 2016, after the DEO’s fraud investigation team identified a pattern of suspicious reemployment assistance claims. Losses to the State of Florida are in excess of $50 thousand.

The investigation identified over 100 employees associated with 65 different school board districts that had their identities illegally used to submit fraudulent reemployment assistance claims from February through December 2016. Although Everett and Lewis attempted to defraud DEO of over $200 thousand in fraudulent claims, DEO’s fraud identification team was able to identify the fraudulent activity which significantly reduced loss to the state.

Investigators believe Everett and Lewis defrauded DEO by filing fraudulent claims utilizing identities of school board employees across the state and several individuals from the healthcare sector. The money was disbursed from DEO into fraudulent bank accounts under the control of Everett and Lewis. The funds were subsequently withdrawn from ATMs throughout Miami.

FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “Thanks to the swift, diligent work of the DEO team, FDLE agents and Department of Labor, these criminals were stopped in their tracks and losses to Florida citizens mitigated.”

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of DEO said, “DEO is incredibly thankful for our partnership with FDLE to arrest criminals who steal from Floridians and the Reemployment Assistance Program. Our team is committed to safeguarding taxpayer dollars while providing Floridians a financial bridge to their next job.”

Everett was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on $80,000 bond while Lewis remains at large. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the case.

The investigation is on-going and there could be additional arrests.​

FDLE investigation leads to four arrests in scheme to sell property with sinkhole damage

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An investigation led by the Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center, Brooksville Office, of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has led to the arrest of four suspects on a charge of organized scheme to defraud relating to the sale of a home with sinkhole property damage.
Those arrested are: Clarence Surrena and Mary Surrena of 230 E. Panama Rd., Winter Springs; Karen Sherwin of 5230 Miller Bayou Dr., Port Richey; and Shawn Poole of 17529 Monteverde Dr., Spring Hill.
During the investigation, agents found that Clarence and Mary Surrena sold their home at 18735 Bonnie Drive, Spring Hill, in Pasco County, to a couple for $275,000. Prior to the closing, the Surrenas completed a Seller’s Disclosure Form on which they denied any sinkhole damage to their property. The Surrenas did acknowledge filing a sinkhole claim; however, they did not reveal the claim was paid. Although the Surrenas received $155,000 in October 2013 to fix the sinkhole, the money was not used for that purpose.
Both Karen Sherwin, the Surrenas’ realtor, and Shawn Poole, the buyers’ agent, were aware of the insurance claim and the incomplete Seller’s Disclosure Form. The buyers only became aware of the sinkhole after moving into their home when a representative of a home insurance company called to say the home could not be insured. The buyers believed they were insured at closing.
Clarence and Mary Surrena were both taken to the Seminole County Jail on $15,000 bond each; Karen Sherwin and Shawn Poole were both taken to the Pasco County Jail on $5,000 bond each.
The case will be prosecuted by the State Attorney’s Office, 6th Judicial Circuit.

FDLE investigation uncovers real estate scheme, leads to charge

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An investigation led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, with assistance from the Clearwater Police Department, has identified Kervin Moreno as the perpetrator of an involved real estate scheme to defraud.
Moreno was arrested Friday in Wayne County, MI, and will face a charge of Organized Scheme to Defraud.
Agents found from April 2012 through June 2014, Moreno placed ads on Craigslist and other websites to advertise homes for sale or rent. But he neither owned the homes nor had authority to sell them. Moreno collected down payments or deposits on eight homes throughout Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties without providing anything of value. The monetary loss to victims is estimated at nearly $50,000.00.
The victims only became aware of the scam after moving into a home and receiving foreclosure notices or visits from lender representatives.
Moreno has several aliases, including Kervin Moreno Mojica, Kervin Moreno Mujica and Kevin M. Moreno.
He will be transported from Michigan to Pasco County to face charges. The Office of Statewide Prosecution will handle the case.

Ten Arrested in Mail Theft Scheme

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Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the U.S. Postal Inspector Service and the Coral Springs Police Department today announced the arrests of 10 individuals in connection to string of mail thefts from post office boxes of Coral Springs residents.
According to the investigation, the defendants took letters containing checks deposited in the U.S. Mail. After illegally removing the letters from the stream of transit, the defendants allegedly removed all written information from the checks, leaving only the pre-printed information. The defendants then allegedly wrote in their own name and a higher amount and deposited the checks into their bank accounts.  
The victims did not know the checks placed in the mail had been redirected, changed to a higher amount and cashed out until they received their bank statements.
Authorities arrested the following Miami-Dade County residents in connection to this case:
· Angel Luis Arcila Berovides, 19;
· Dayan Moreira Clemente, 21;
· Liubert Cordero, 27;
· Mario Jorge Marrero-Corvo, 21;
· Rosalia Llompart Garcia, 21;
· Lorena Gonzalez, 19;
· Geysi Hernandez Mendoza, 37;
· Enlys Cosme Palacios, 22;
· Alexander Reyes, 25; and
· Frank Rojas, 27.
The defendants face charges that include organized scheme to defraud, grand theft and identity theft. If convicted of all counts, the defendants face up to 15 years in prison. Attorney General Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute this case.