TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced Monday that state investigators identified more than $806,000 in public assistance fraud cases during May 2026, resulting in arrests and administrative actions targeting improper use of taxpayer-funded benefits.
According to the Florida Department of Financial Services, investigators with the Criminal Investigations Division reviewed dozens of cases involving public assistance programs and determined that multiple individuals had fraudulently received benefits or provided false information regarding eligibility.
The cases resulted in 12 arrests involving a combined $487,728 in fraudulent public assistance benefits, while an additional 48 cases led to administrative actions totaling $318,895.
“Florida will continue to set the standard for cracking down on public assistance fraud and ensuring that criminals who try to engage in fraudulent schemes will face the consequences of their actions,” Ingoglia said in a statement. “I want to applaud the work of my investigators who work tirelessly to protect taxpayer-funded programs and hold these criminals accountable.”
Largest Fraud Case Exceeded $221,000
State officials said the largest arrest made during May involved Alexis Rivero, who allegedly obtained $221,787.88 through fraudulent SNAP and Medicaid benefits.
Investigators identified the case as the largest public assistance fraud arrest announced during the month.
Other significant cases included:
- Kristen Bowman — $47,516.68
- Nelida Reyes-Carrasquillo — $42,113.46
- David Jacobs — $41,925.28
- Karigan Burgos — $33,452.41
- Janelle Josephik — $32,662.90
- Aurora Damian Chamu — $29,432.71
Several additional defendants were charged in cases involving smaller amounts of fraud.
Administrative Actions Target Additional Violations
In addition to criminal arrests, the Bureau of Public Assistance Fraud reviewed 48 separate cases that resulted in administrative penalties totaling $318,895.
Individuals found to have violated program rules were disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for periods ranging from 12 months to permanent disqualification, depending on prior violations and case history.
The Department of Financial Services said these actions are intended to protect public assistance programs while ensuring benefits remain available for eligible Floridians.
Protecting Taxpayer Dollars
As Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Ingoglia oversees the Department of Financial Services and frequently highlights fraud prevention efforts involving government programs and taxpayer-funded benefits.
The agency encourages residents to report suspected fraud through state reporting systems and continues investigating cases involving SNAP, Medicaid, and other public assistance programs.
The announcement comes as Florida Elections 2026 continue to take shape, with statewide candidates increasingly highlighting issues such as government accountability, public spending, fraud prevention, and taxpayer protection. As the incumbent Chief Financial Officer, Blaise Ingoglia is expected to make fiscal oversight and government transparency central themes of his campaign.
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