Manatee County Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in contractor/worker’s compensation fraud sting

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - The Manatee County Sheriff in cooperation with The Division of Investigative and Forensic Services with the Florida Department of Financial Services, and The Department of Business and Professional Regulation conducted a joint Workers’ Compensation Fraud/ Unlicensed Contractor operation.

The operation began on Jan. 24 and concluded on Jan. 25. Investigators were sent in 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.

In total, 7 offenders were arrested and 2 direct files for Failure to Obtain Workers Compensation Coverage and Unlicensed contracting.

Phillip Lee Hazlett, 74, Fail to secure workers comp insurance coverage / Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Plumbing
Bryan Edward Koch, 57, Fail to secure workers comp insurance coverage
Michael Kochman, 61, Fail to secure workers comp insurance coverage / Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Plumbing / Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Electrical
Carlos Alberto Blanco Graterol, 42, Fail to secure workers comp insurance coverage
Musa Kedar Ortiz, 41, Fail to secure workers comp insurance coverage / Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Plumbing / Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Electrical
Oscar Francisco Solis, 50, Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Plumbing
John Wesley Wilcox III, 27, Fail to secure workers comp insurance coverage / Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Plumbing
Jeffrey Michael Stumpo, 45, Fail to secure workers comp insurance coverage / Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Plumbing / Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Electrical
Rafael Marinho Amaral, 36, Fail to secure workers comp insurance coverage / Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Plumbing / Engage in contractor business w/o certification-Electrical