Fraud

A Cape Coral man is one of nearly 20 Floridians charged in a nationwide health care fraud case.Eric Strom Holland, 55, was charged with wire fraud and distributing and dispensing controlled substances in connection with an alleged scheme to deceive doctors into writing controlled substance prescriptions based on false pretenses.The charges stem from the 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against Holland and 323 other defendants, including 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals, in 50 federal districts and 12 State Attorneys General’s Offices across the United States, for their alleged participation in various health care fraud schemes involving over $14.6 billion in intended loss.

—Seth Bloom of Sarasota is facing charges connected to orchestrating a multi-county construction fraud scheme that defrauded at least 13 victims across seven Florida counties, resulting in more than $3 million in losses. The charges were filed by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. During Bloom’s arrest and the execution of a search warrant, investigators also uncovered a large cache of firearms and ammunition—despite Mr. Bloom being a convicted felon.

A Lehigh Acres woman is going to spend 10 years in federal prison for a fraud scheme that netted her nearly $4.2 million.As part of her sentence, U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber ordered 49-year-old Madelyn Hernandez to forfeit $4,199,498.42, the proceeds of the wire fraud.

Timothy Craig Jolloff, 48, and Lisa Ann Jolloff, 58, of Fort Myers have been sentenced to eight years and one month, and three years, respectively, in federal prison for wire fraud, bank fraud and illegal monetary transactions connected to a COVID relief fraud case.U.S. District Judge Thomas J. Barber handed down the sentences Friday.

This week is the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's National Consumer Protection Week and comes with a warning about the dangers of imposter scams.Imposters are scammers who work very hard to convince consumers they are a friend or relative, or that they are from a legitimate source, such as a bank or government agency. These fraudsters then take personally identifiable information (PII) and use it to steal victims’ money.

A Sarasota man is among nine people from Florida and Ohio charged in connection with alleged schemes to defraud programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled, and to obtain controlled substances through fraud. The charges filed in the Middle District of Florida are part of the Department of Justice’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action.

An Alva man will head to prison after he was sentenced in connection with a $1.35 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell Monday sentenced Evan Graves, 40, to 18 months in federal prison for committing wire fraud.

Evan Graves, 40, of Alva, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with a $1.35 million COVID relief fraud scheme and now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date for Graves has not yet been set. As part of his guilty plea, Graves has agreed to forfeit approximately $1,355,600 and six properties in Fort Myers that he had purchased or funded using proceeds of his fraud.