Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia dropped the hammer today, announcing that a multi-agency investigation has led to the arrest of six people accused of siphoning $1.7 million from state taxpayers.
The alleged scheme didn’t come from the outside; instead, it centered on a former state employee who investigators say used her position to greenlight more than 220 fake property damage claims.
The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) Criminal Investigations Division, or CID, handled the arrests following an extensive look into the Division of Risk Management. At the heart of the case is Briana McCarthy, a former DFS employee.
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Authorities claim McCarthy orchestrated the entire operation, processing hundreds of suspicious claims to push through fraudulent payouts. Because of her central role, McCarthy faces a long list of serious charges, including grand theft, money laundering, aggravated white-collar crime, and official misconduct.
But McCarthy wasn’t acting alone. The investigation pulled in several others, including former government workers from other departments. Brianna Hannan and Carlotta Hawkins, both formerly with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, were taken into custody.
Hawkins faces additional charges for allegedly depositing fraudulent bank items. Three other individuals—Kearia Walker, Whitney Branch, and Kavon Reese—were also arrested and charged with grand theft.
“Let me be crystal clear: If you steal from Florida taxpayers, you will go to jail. Our Criminal Investigations Division investigators are working hard to put bad actors behind bars and hold fraudsters accountable,” said Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. “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.”
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With more arrests expected in the coming weeks, the CID is keeping the pressure on.
For now, the six individuals arrested face the full weight of the law as the state moves to recover what was stolen from the public purse.
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