Domenick Pucillo of Miami, Florida was arrested Tuesday after he was accused of launching a check-cashing business with the intent of dodging workers' compensation coverage fees, news sources report. Pucillo was booked into police custody on charges forgery, uttering a forged instrument, filing a false and fraudulent document, and operating an unlicensed money service business. Detectives arrested him as part of a police operation dubbed "Operation Dirty Money." It is unclear whether he has qualified for bail bond'. It is also not yet know whether Pucillo has hired a lawyer to represent his case.
Workers' compensation insurance allows injured workers to receive wages and benefits in exchange for not suing their employer. Like most forms of insurance, it comes with certain fees. The two defendants allegedly intended to run a check-cashing operation in order to avoid fees incurred by workers compensation coverage. It is not exactly clear from news reports how the business could help in avoiding such fees.
According to reports, Pucillo teamed up with Evelio Suarez in January 2012 to create the business I&T Financial Services, LLC in order to further the check-cashing scheme. However, Suarez is a convicted felon and, as a result, was unable to sign on as a business partner with Pucillo. Detectives say Pucillo instead covered up Suarez's identity when making the business deal. As part of the alleged scheme, Pucillo submitted falsified documentation to the Florida Office of Financial Regulation in order to make himself an administrator of I&T Financial Services, LLC.
Detectives say they arrested Suarez in October 2012 on charges of grand theft and conspiracy to commit workers compensation fraud. Officers arrested Pucillo in New Jersey and he will be extradited to Miami-Dade County for prosecution presently. During their investigation, the Workers' Compensation Fraud Task Force says it seized $1 million form the alleged check-cashing scheme. If he is found guilty on the charges, Pucillo could face up to 45 years in prison.
Pucillo was not the only South Florida resident arrested for fraud recently. Courtney Excell, a West Palm Beach AT&T clerk, was arrested on Tuesday after she was accused of creating 10 fraudulent phone accounts, reports say. Excell, 24, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on charges of organized fraud and grand theft. Her bail was set at $3,000. It is unclear whether she has hired legal representation.