Case Updates

02/16/2024

Former investment adviser Matthew Muratori, of Clearwater, was arrested on charges of elderly exploitation, grand theft, identity theft, and scheme to defraud related to the alleged embezzlement of an elderly client's funds

02/14/2024

Miguel "Mike" Angel Perez, of New Port Richey, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for orchestrating a real estate investment scam that defrauded 27 investors out of approximately $1.7 million over an eight-year period. The sentencing follows a jury verdict which found Perez guilty of multiple counts of racketeering, larceny, and mortgage fraud in connection with the scheme.

02/02/2024

Gary Gauthier, of Seminole, was sentenced to 5 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of probation for his role in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded Florida investors out of more than $6 million. The sentencing follows a guilty plea to charges of racketeering, conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, sale of unregistered securities, sale of securities by an unregistered dealer, securities fraud, and organized fraud. Gauthier’s co-conspirator and a former CPA, David Dreslin pled guilty to charges of racketeering, sale of unregistered securities, securities fraud and organized fraud for his role in the scheme. Gauthier and Dreslin were ordered to pay $6,252,469.79 in restitution.

02/01/2024

Phillip Roy Wasserman, of Sarasota, a former lawyer and insurance agent, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud as well as evasion of payment of income taxes. As part of his sentence, the court order him to forfeit $6,318,299.75. The sentencing follows a jury verdict.

01/29/2024

Brian Peter Troiano, of Tampa, was sentenced to 60 months of probation and ordered to pay $46,000 in restitution connection with a fraudulent investment offering. He was also ordered to serve 50 hours of community service and to not have any contact with victims or invest or trade stocks for others. The sentencing followed a guilty plea to charges of grand theft and selling unregistered securities for his role in an investment scam.

01/04/2024

David Aubel, aka David Kost, was sentenced to serve 14 years in state prison to be followed by 10 years of probation for his role in an investment scheme that defrauded 12 Florida investors out of approximately $2.4 million. Additionally, on October 23, 2023, Aubel’s former business partner, Nelson Garcia entered a plea of no contest to charges of criminal conspiracy and unlicensed telemarketing for his role in the scheme and was sentenced to five years’ probation.