ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A Pinellas County businessman accused of orchestrating a massive fraud scheme appeared in federal court on Thursday afternoon for his arraignment and pleaded not guilty.
Federal prosecutors said Leo Govoni “masterminded an over $100 million complex and sophisticated wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering scheme that spanned 15 years.”
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According to court records, more than 1,000 special needs individuals entrusted their money to Govoni’s nonprofit, The Center for Special Needs Trust Administration, which was based in St. Petersburg.
Daughter blames Leo Govoni for dad’s death after funds for chemo treatment went missing
Govoni and his accountant, John Witeck, were indicted on 15 counts and arrested on June 26. Prosecutors said the $100 million went missing from client funds, “which they treated as a slush fund to enrich themselves and others.”…