13 People Charged In Workers Comp Fraud, Unlicensed Contractor Sting: Sheriff

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — Following a workers compensation fraud and unlicensed contractor operation, 13 people face charges, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The sting was conducted Tuesday through Thursday by the sheriff’s office, the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services with the Florida Department of Financial Services, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Manatee County Code Enforcement, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

The purpose of the operation was to address unlicensed contractors who are working without the required contractor license and engaging in construction class work without the required workers’ compensation insurance exemptions, the sheriff’s office said.

Those charged with failure to obtain workers compensation coverage and unlicensed contracting include:

• Earl Brown, 47
• Robert Edwards, 39
• Junio Goncalves-Fonseca, 41
• (name removed)
• David Lamothe, 80
• Loren Leonard, 47
• Harold Leventry, 63
• Carlos Pena, 43
• Oved Otachy, 47
• Robert Pinas, 31
• Jonathan Pipes, 37
• Andrei Razmeritsa, 38
• John Small, 73