A man named Giorgio Giovanni Gonzalez is facing charges for allegedly scamming homeowners out of nearly $35,000 in Broward County. He posed as a public insurance adjuster and promised to help policyholders with their insurance claims. However, he unlawfully kept a portion of their settlement checks.
Giorgio Giovanni Gonzalez, 38, is accused of acting as a public adjuster without the necessary license and withholding settlement checks from clients. He charged a 20% adjusting fee for his services but failed to deliver the full settlement amount to two policyholders in Davie and Pembroke Pines.
According to authorities, Gonzalez received over $44,000 in settlement checks but did not provide one homeowner with the $18,000 they were owed. Additionally, he wrote a check for $16,424 to another policyholder, which bounced due to insufficient funds.
Gonzalez’s public adjuster license was suspended in 2013 for not maintaining a surety bond, making his actions illegal. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison for his fraudulent activities. This is not the first time he has faced legal trouble, as he was previously arrested in Miami-Dade County in 2023 for similar offenses.
The Florida Department of Financial Services expressed concern over unlicensed public adjusters like Gonzalez taking advantage of homeowners, leading to increased insurance rates and undermining the work of honest professionals. CFO Jimmy Patronis emphasized the importance of cracking down on insurance fraud to protect policyholders and maintain the integrity of the insurance industry.
As Florida’s insurance market continues to recover, efforts to combat fraud and hold perpetrators accountable will remain a top priority. Authorities urge homeowners to be cautious when dealing with public adjusters and verify their credentials to avoid falling victim to scams. By raising awareness and enforcing stricter regulations, the state aims to safeguard consumers and promote transparency in insurance practices.