Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
The mayor of the City of Tavares was suspended from his office by the governor of Florida on Thursday afternoon.
Mayor Robert William Wolfe was charged a day earlier with insurance fraud, a third-degree felony. He bonded out of jail Wednesday evening.
According to Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s executive order, Wolfe “is prohibited from performing any official act, duty or function of public office.”
The city’s vice mayor, Lori Pfister, has been moved to the position of mayor.
The State Attorney’s Office claims that in February, Wolfe filed a $9,000 claim with his insurance company, saying his home was damaged and he needed to rent a home. However, an investigation by the Department of Financial Services found that he never left his property.
It has been estimated that insurance fraud costs the industry more than $80 billion each year. The tricky thing about insurance fraud is that it can be difficult to prove someone guilty because of the way these types of crimes are usually committed. If you have been accused of insurance fraud, you may be an innocent party who had little to nothing to do with a crime. Our Lake County White Collar Criminal Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton will investigate your case until we get to the bottom of any alleged criminal activity, so that we can protect your interests and fight for your rights.
When you become the target of an insurance fraud investigation, you need to secure a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Taking immediate action is important as this is the best way to achieve the most successful outcome. We want to help safeguard your good name and your future, so call us today for a free consultation at 866-608-5529 or contact us online.