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WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 6, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) today released the following statements in reaction to the recent reported arrests in connection with the insurance fraud investigation, “Operation Flames and Flood”. The two public adjusters arrested were not and have never been members of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA).

TALLAHASSEE - March 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced the arrest of Timothy Wayne Sexton, 25, owner of Plumbing Rescue Company located in Tampa. On several occasions Plumbing Rescue employees allegedly pressured homeowners into completing thousands of dollars in unnecessary plumbing repairs by using scare tactics and false statements.

WASHINGTON, DC - November 21, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- A former executive of Lender Processing Services Inc. (LPS)—a publicly traded company based in Jacksonville, Florida—pleaded guilty today, admitting her participation in a six-year scheme to prepare and file more than one million fraudulently signed and notarized mortgage-related documents with property recorders’ offices throughout the United States.

PENSACOLA, FL - September 10, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- In February, Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced that nine defendants had been federally indicted for their involvement in several multi-jurisdictional mortgage fraud schemes and that two previously indicted defendants had been sentenced to prison. Today, two additional defendants have been found guilty and now await sentencing.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - November 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that a Tampa couple has pled guilty to a mortgage fraud racketeering conspiracy. David Barile, 44, and Melissa D. Barile, 35, both of Tampa, were involved in an $8.8 million mortgage fraud scheme prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution.

JACKSONVILLE, FL - August 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces that Cynthia Darlene Strickland (age 45, Jacksonville) pleaded guilty on Thursday to bank fraud. Strickland was a licensed title agent and the owner of Premier Title Group, Inc., a title agency in Jacksonville. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - April 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida CFO Jeff Atwater today announced the arrest of Jose Claudio Pereira, owner of BR Mortgage Group Corporation, on charges of racketeering for his part in fraudulent mortgage transactions in Broward, St. Lucie and Brevard counties.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - August 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Pinellas County woman pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $8 million in a real estate fraud scheme. Cheryl Wehlau, owner of Gulf Coast Title Offices, entered her plea yesterday in a case prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today unveiled a new website designed to help homeowners avoid mortgage fraud-related scams. The website, at provides consumers with easy access to current investigations, complaint forms, and tips to identify and avoid foreclosure rescue fraud. Foreclosure rescue fraud, or fraud involving loan modifications related to foreclosures, is the complaint topic most commonly reported to the Attorney General’s Office and involves the charging of an up-front fee for foreclosure rescue services before any services are provided, if they are provided at all.