6 Arrested, Including State Employees, In $1.7 Million Florida Fraud Scheme

Florida officials on Monday announced six people, including former government employees, were arrested in a $1.7 million fraud scheme.

Blaise Ingoglia, Chief Financial Officer for the state of Florida, said the Florida Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division (CID), with cooperation from other state agencies, uncovered an elaborate fraud scheme designed to take advantage of the state’s Division of Risk Management.

One the suspects, former Department of Financial Services employee Briana McCarthy, allegedly processed more than 220 suspicious property damage claims, resulting in $1.7 million in fraudulent payouts to recipients who had no qualifying losses.

McCarthy was charged with grand theft, aggravated white-collar crime, money laundering, scheme to defraud, criminal use of personal identification information, communications fraud, official misconduct, and forgery.

Former Department of Business and Professional Regulation employee Brianna Hannan was charged with grand theft. Former Department of Business and Professional Regulation employee Carlotta Hawkins was charged with grand theft and cash deposit bank item with intent to defraud.

Kearia Walker and Kavon Reese were each charged with grand theft. Whitney Branch was charged with grand theft and cash deposit bank item with intent to defraud.

Ingoglia said additional arrests may be forthcoming, and said CID is encouraging anyone involved in the scheme to come forward.

“Let me be crystal clear: If you steal from Florida taxpayers, you will go to jail,” Ingoglia said. “Our Criminal Investigations Division investigators are working hard to put bad actors behind bars and hold fraudsters accountable. As CFO, I will not allow waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars to be left unchecked, and I will pursue any criminal attempting to steal from the taxpayers to the fullest extent of the law.”