TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announces the arrest of 20 individuals in “Operation Hot Water,” a workers’ compensation insurance fraud sting operation involving unlicensed contractors in Pasco County.

 

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Workers’ compensation fraud creates an unfair advantage for dishonest businesses and can leave employees at risk and vulnerable. My office has made more than 400 arrests for workers’ compensation fraud, an average of one person every day. If you commit workers’ comp fraud, we will shut you down. I am proud of the work and partnership between our fraud office and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office on this case.”

 

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said, “These partnerships and our joint operations are incredibly valuable as they are responsible for keeping our public safe."

 

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PSO) and CFO Patronis’ Bureau of Insurance Fraud along with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Pasco County Building Department conducted a joint sting operation that caught contractors agreeing to perform work without a license and without workers’ compensation insurance coverage. The 20 individuals were arrested for contracting without a license and failure to secure workers’ compensation insurance coverage.

 

Individuals arrested included: Raul Guidicelli, Frederick John Kloster, Gary Allen Nickell Jr., Michael Anthony Anderson, Ronald Lee Weston Sr., Kenneth Ray Rodgers, Kevin Christopher Burtis, Richard Frank Bruns Jr., James Roberts Wood II, Joseph Martin, Richard Martin, Luis Alberto Medina, Robert Bruce Trottman, Harold “Chuck” Attebery II, Neil T. Myer, Daniel George Griffin, Charbel Tannous, Moshen H. Seuod, Mauricio Chicas and Dennis Disney Garlock. 

 

If convicted, each individual faces up to 5 years in prison per count. To report suspected contractor fraud, call our Fraud Hotline at 1-800-378-0445 or report online at MyFloridaCFO.com. People reporting fraud can remain anonymous.