FORT MYERS, Florida — Luis Emilio Hernandez, a 45-year-old from Naples, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges related to a scheme targeting an elderly victim post-Hurricane Ian.
Hernandez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the two wire fraud counts and up to 10 years for each of the six money laundering counts, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The indictment seeks forfeiture of over $1.2 million and other assets linked to the offenses. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Court records reveal that after Hurricane Ian in 2022, Hernandez persuaded an 85-year-old victim to write personal checks totaling over $1.2 million for construction materials and repairs that were never completed. Instead, Hernandez used the funds for personal gain. Investigators confirmed that Hernandez did not possess a contractor’s license in Florida, and no permits were obtained for the alleged work…