Florida Check-Cashing Fraud Scheme Leads to Prison Sentences for Three Conspirators

In a major legal development, three individuals have been sentenced in a complex check-cashing scheme in Florida, involving shell companies, tax evasion, and workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Gabriela Inamagua, 29, has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison, with an order to pay over $14 million in restitution. This follows the convictions of her father, Guillermo Inamagua, and his former girlfriend, Mayra Velasquez, in 2022 for similar offenses.

The scheme orchestrated by the Inamaguas and Velasquez involved their companies – Uno Construction, Perfect Builders Group, First Construction, and Best Construction – falsely reporting minimal employee numbers and payroll to workers’ compensation insurers. In reality, these companies cashed over $60 million in checks from contractors, using the funds to pay workers, many undocumented, in cash. This enabled them to avoid substantial payroll taxes and workers’ compensation premiums.

Guillermo Inamagua and Velasquez were both sentenced to prison terms for their roles in managing similar fraudulent operations, avoiding millions in taxes and insurance premiums. Guillermo forfeited properties as part of his sentence, while Velasquez, facing additional charges, was sentenced to over three years in prison.

This case, highlighting the illicit use of shell companies in the construction industry to commit insurance fraud, has drawn attention to the need for stricter oversight in the sector. The prosecution of these individuals serves as a stark reminder of the legal repercussions of engaging in such fraudulent activities.