These cases are part and parcel of the fraud divisions more than 740 arrests and 560 convictions since last July 1 representing a 70 percent increase in convictions over last year.
The following are from the Top 10 Fraud List:
- First Do No Harm – Dr. Thomas Merrill of Magnolia Medical Clinic in Apalachicola was convicted in January of 98 felony counts stemming from his over-prescribing of controlled substances to patients, six of whom died of drug overdoses.
The following are from the Top 10 Fraud List:
- First Do No Harm – Dr. Thomas Merrill of Magnolia Medical Clinic in Apalachicola was convicted in January of 98 felony counts stemming from his over-prescribing of controlled substances to patients, six of whom died of drug overdoses.
- Classic Ponzi Scheme – Two Palm Beach County men were each sentenced to 25 years in prison after they pleaded guilty to what detectives called a classic Ponzi scheme.
- Preying on the Elderly – A former insurance agent who organized an elaborate bait-and-switch scheme that systematically defrauded more than 1,200 South Florida seniors will spend 30 months in prison.
- Empty Promises – Two men who sold empty promises and bogus health insurance plans to tens of thousands of people in Florida and 43 other states can be assured themselves of one thing – they will spend time in prison.
- A Friend Indeed – Charles “Gary” Cowden, of Sanford, is facing six to eight years in prison -- plenty of time to think about how he bilked a friend and several others out of more than $1 million.
- Sing it from the Rooftop – A Louisiana roofing contractor who came to Florida to profit from hurricane-damaged homes in Central Florida didn’t do himself or his workers any favors.
- Trust Fund Tackle – Her boss trusted her with his mail, phone calls and business accounts, but clearly shouldn’t have. Louanne Hickey used her access to steal more than $140,000 from accounts…
- A ‘Churning’ Sensation – Tampa Insurance Agent Herman Roger Letchworth III “churned” up a big mess for himself. Churning is the industry term for an agent selling or creating a new policy only to earn the commission. Letchworth churned up thousands of dollars in fraudulent commissions for himself by pilfering money from existing customers’ policy premiums and falsifying life insurance applications for nearly 60 customers in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
- A Cash Infusion – DIF Detective James Kappel received a tip that Michael Andre Griffin, of Tampa, was approaching patients at St. Anthony’s Out-Patient Clinic and offering $100 a week and grocery coupons to seek HIV-infusion treatment at North Tampa Medical Center.
- Double Rip-Off – A dozen individuals have pleaded guilty to purchasing the identities of unsuspecting customers at a Miami auto dealership and using the information to create driver licenses for imposters to present at area clinics for treatment of alleged injuries from auto crashes.
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