Florida Cracks Down on Public Assistance Fraud, Arrests 12 Individuals in May

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida investigators have made significant strides in combating public assistance fraud, arresting 12 individuals in May and uncovering over $806,000 in fraudulent activity.

The Florida Department of Financial Services' Criminal Investigations Division (CID) identified $487,728 in fraud tied to the arrests, with an additional $318,895 uncovered through administrative cases that resulted in penalties such as benefit disqualifications.

A statement from Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia warns would-be offenders, 'If you think you can scheme your way into profiting off of public assistance benefits, think again. The state will continue efforts to hold offenders accountable and protect taxpayer-funded programs.'

The largest individual case involved more than $221,000 in fraud tied to SNAP and Medicaid benefits.

Those arrested in May include:

Additionally, officials reviewed 48 other cases that resulted in administrative action, disqualifying individuals from receiving SNAP benefits for 12 months, 24 months, or permanently, depending on prior violations.

Investigators examine eligibility records, reported income, and household information to identify discrepancies that may indicate fraud. Cases can result in criminal charges or administrative penalties based on the severity of the violation.

The Department of Financial Services encourages anyone with knowledge of fraud to report it at FraudFreeFlorida.com.