New Task Force Established

Nov.
15, 2018

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office, 14^th
Judicial Circuit, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of
Business and Professional Regulations, the Panama City Police Department, and
the Lynn Haven Police Department have conducted an undercover sting operation
and made twelve arrests in Bay County.

The
agencies received numerous complaints of shoddy workmanship from roofing
contractors as well as incidents of scamming Bay County residents involving
contracting work. One resident complained his new roof leaked the first time it
rained.

Because
of the complaints, a task force was created called Citizens United Fighting
Fraud, or CUFF. Over the past week, CUFF targeted unlicensed contractors that
were advertising in Bay County, and conducted several sting operations.

Arrested
on November 14, 2018 were Victor Miguel Prado, age 54, of New Orleans,
Louisiana, Jose Santoas Mejia-Brizuela, age 59, of New Orleans, Louisiana,
Castro Osman Nahum Matute, age 29, of New Orleans, Louisiana, Gilberto Almaraz,
age 50, of Houston, Texas, Alan Misael Gonzalez, age 32, of San Antonio, Texas,
Julio Medina Torres, age 32, of Corpus Christi, Texas, Thomas Rodriguez, age
48, of Houston, Texas. All were charged with Contracting Without a License.
Julio Medena Torres was also charged with Possession of Cocaine.

Arrested
on November 15, 2018, were Gustavo Lopez, age 24, of New Orleans, Louisiana,
Javier Callejas, age 34 of New Orleans, Louisiana, Suazo Villatoro, age 34, or
Arravi, Louisiana, Kevin Sauer, age 50, of Indiana, and Luis Espinoza, age 40,
of Denhan Springs, Louisiana. All were charged with Contracting Without a
License.

Prepared
by R. Corley

Information
by Major J. Stanford

Approved
by Sheriff T. Ford

CUFF
has obtained warrants on several individuals that left Bay County. They are
Eric Judson Naquin, Joseph Dipasquale, and Juan Pena Morales. All will be
charged with Contracting Without a License. Naquin and Morales also face
charges of Grand Theft.

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