Tampa Contractor Sentenced to 4 Years, Ordered to Pay $55M for Fraud and Safety Violations

A Tampa construction company owner has been sentenced to four years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $55 million in restitution after pleading guilty to multiple fraud-related charges. Manuel Domingos Pita, the owner of Domingos 54 Construction, admitted to defrauding workers’ compensation insurers and the U.S. government by underreporting employee numbers and failing to pay federal employment taxes, leading to significant financial losses for insurers and the IRS.

Authorities say Pita’s fraudulent activities resulted in over $22.7 million in unpaid insurance premiums and more than $33.7 million in tax losses. Additionally, he repeatedly ignored Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards, even after multiple citations. His negligence culminated in a 2020 incident where a worker died after falling from a roof while working without proper fall protection.

In addition to his prison sentence, Pita must forfeit more than $5.5 million in assets, including cash and real estate. Federal officials emphasized that his actions not only defrauded insurers and the government but also endangered workers’ lives. The case highlights the severe consequences of insurance fraud and workplace safety violations.