TAMPA, Fla. — Federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment charging two Tampa Bay men in connection with a sweeping fraud and money laundering scheme that allegedly siphoned more than $100 million from a Clearwater-based nonprofit that managed funds for individuals with disabilities and special needs.
Leo John Govoni, 67, of Clearwater, and John Leo Witeck, 60, of Tampa, face multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and other related offenses. Govoni also faces separate charges of bank fraud, an illegal monetary transaction, and making a false bankruptcy declaration.
The indictment alleges the fraud took place over a 16-year period, from June 2009 through May 2025, and ultimately led to the bankruptcy of the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration (CSNT), a nonprofit founded by Govoni in 2000. The organization managed special needs trusts for over 2,100 beneficiaries nationwide, handling approximately $200 million in assets as of early 2024…