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Fraud

Florida Men Indicted for Stealing Over $100 Million from Nonprofit Organization

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A Florida nonprofit organization, the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration (CSNT), managed money for people with disabilities and other special needs. From 2009 to 2025, two men, Leo John Govoni and John Leo Witeck, allegedly stole over $100 million meant for these individuals. The stolen funds were used for personal enrichment, including purchasing real estate, traveling, and funding a brewery.

Key Takeaways:

  • The defendants are accused of creating a slush fund to divert millions of dollars away from a nonprofit organization helping people with special needs.
  • The organization's resources were drained, and the accused subjects betrayed the trust of the community and ultimately bankrupted a lifeline for vulnerable families.
  • The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.
  • Govoni faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy charges.
  • If convicted, Govoni also faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge, 10 years in prison on the illegal monetary transactions charge, and five years in prison on the false bankruptcy declaration charge.

Statistics:

  • $100 million: the alleged amount stolen from the nonprofit organization.
  • $200 million: the approximate amount managed by CSNT as of February 2024.
  • 2,100: the number of special needs trusts managed by CSNT.
  • 15 years: the period during which the defendants allegedly conspired to steal funds.
  • 4 charges: the number of charges against Govoni, including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.
  • 5 years: the maximum prison sentence Govoni could face on the false bankruptcy declaration charge.

Sources:

  • United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida
  • FBI Criminal Investigative Division
  • IRS-CI
  • HHS-OIG
  • SSA-OIG

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