A longtime Naples accountant has admitted in federal court that he played a role in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme tied to a Southwest Florida agribusiness, according to law enforcement and court records.
Federal prosecutors allege the defendant, a 75-year-old certified public accountant from East Naples, conspired with others to submit false documentation to secure significant federal funds meant to support agricultural operations during the pandemic. Investigators say the scheme involved at least $2 million in improperly obtained relief dollars, including funds from the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and other federal initiatives.
Prosecutors say the accountant falsely certified documents and “blindly signed” forms submitted to federal agencies that were intended to verify eligibility and financial need for the relief. In doing so, authorities contend he helped mislead officials and enabled the larger conspiracy to flourish over a period spanning several years.
The plea was entered before a U.S. magistrate judge on Jan. 27 in a federal courtroom in Florida. Under his plea agreement, the accountant acknowledged knowing that the documents he signed contained inaccuracies in the representations of the farm operation’s finances and eligibility for assistance.
The case is part of a broader federal investigation into fraud connected with a prominent Southwest Florida farm and distribution company and its affiliates. Multiple individuals tied to the operation have already pleaded guilty to related charges, and authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled, but court experts note that the counts to which the defendant pleaded guilty each carry potential penalties of up to five years in prison, substantial fines, and supervised release following incarceration.
Local legal analysts say the guilty plea signals federal prosecutors’ commitment to pursuing white-collar crime in the region, especially cases involving the misuse of pandemic relief funds that were intended to support struggling farmers and small agribusinesses.
The plea also highlights ongoing scrutiny of how federal aid was distributed and certified during the COVID-19 pandemic, with agricultural programs among the most heavily targeted for oversight and investigations nationwide.
