A Charlotte County man, the focus of a State Attorney’s Office Economics Crimes Unit investigation, Randall Ruppert, had been adjudicated guilty and sentenced for economic crimes committed in 2023.
In the first case, the defendant was adjudicated guilty of First-Degree Grand Theft and Contracting without a License. The case involved the defendant fraudulently billing a neighbor for building a house.
The case was also investigated by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte County Community Development, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
In a separate case, the defendant was adjudicated guilty of Scheme to Defraud. The defendant was working for a construction company on Boca Grande and submitted fraudulent invoices.
During the pendency of both cases, the defendant fled to Mexico. The State Attorney’s Office worked with U.S. Marshals Service to locate him and have him brought back to the United States for prosecution.
The defendant was sentenced to 6 years in prison followed by 20 years of probation. He was also ordered to pay $427,000 in restitution and permanently forbidden from working for any occupation or company that is licensed under Florida Chapter 489 referencing the construction industry. The victim in the first case received full civil recovery for his house.
Economic Crimes Unit Chief J.D. Miller prosecuted the cases.
Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director