{"id":907,"date":"2019-07-16T20:57:29","date_gmt":"2019-07-16T20:57:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=907"},"modified":"2019-07-16T20:57:39","modified_gmt":"2019-07-16T20:57:39","slug":"three-arrested-for-defrauding-republic-services-of-over-150000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2019\/07\/16\/three-arrested-for-defrauding-republic-services-of-over-150000\/","title":{"rendered":"Three arrested for defrauding Republic Services of over $150,000"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On Monday, July 15, 2019, PCSO detectives working with the\nOffice of the Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution\narrested 40-year-old Jason Sawyer of Plant City, and “Scrap\nIt” in Mulberry managers 53-year-old Angela Delao & 56-year-old\nMaria Rosado, for grand theft and defrauding Republic Services in Apopka of\nover $150,000.00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September of 2018, Republic Services became aware of missing dumpers\/metal containers from some of their facilities. They began investigating and learned that a repairman for 2J Fabrications – Jason Sawyer – who was paid to do dumpster repairs for Republic, was seen driving his personal Ford truck and flatbed trailer loaded with dumpsters, heading westbound on I-4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republic Services contacted Sawyer, and he told them he had\nbeen “given” the dumpsters by someone who worked there, and that he\nhad been scrapping them to Scrap It metal recyclers in Mulberry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republic Services’ company policy is that they do not sell their dumpsters and that they scrap dumpsters themselves. They also do not allow anyone to transport their dumpsters with their own personal vehicle. They contacted PCSO to investigate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the investigation, Scrap It provided records showing\u00a023 separate transactions with Sawyer where he was paid a total of\u00a0$10,788\u00a0for the 42 dumpsters he scrapped. The paperwork showed that Sawyer provided expired out-of-state identification for each transaction and that they paid him an amount over the current scrap price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The managers of Scrap It was in violation of\u00a0FSS 538.19\u00a0metal recycler not maintaining proper records;\u00a0FSS 538.26(4)\u00a0metal recycler purchasing from a seller without proof of ownership; and\u00a0FSS 538.09 (1)\u00a0acting as a second-hand recycler without registration, for each of these transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After paying Sawyer for the dumpsters, Delaow allowed him to\ncome back and paint over the “Republic Services” logos on them. Delao\nand Rosado then sold the dumpsters for $1,000 each to local\nbusinesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“These three suspects were pretty bold – Sawyer drives\naway with 42 dumpsters belonging to a business that trusts him to do repair\nwork, meanwhile these metal recyclers are breaking all kinds of laws related to\nhow they’re supposed to conduct business. We have a great working relationship\nwith most of the secondhand metal dealers and scrappers in the county, but\nthese two just proved to us that they cannot be trusted, and shouldn’t be\nmanaging a business.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sawyer’s criminal history includes 5 previous felony\ncharges, including a 1999 arrest for 2 counts bank robbery, two 2002 arrests\nfor armed robbery and vehicle theft, and a 2003 arrest for vehicle theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was arrested and charged with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n