The Polk County Sheriff s Office has arrested 10 people on charges of receiving Polk CARES funds through fraudulent applications after a six-month long investigation. Those accused range from paraprofessionals to Publix employees.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said nine of the 10 individuals received $2,000 each from Polk CARES, a county program launched in May to provide financial assistance to residents struggling to pay for rent, utilities and housing costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $18,000 was paid from these falsified applications, according to the sheriff, and has not been recovered.
There are about 40 people are still under investigation, according to Judd.
Polk paramedic of the year arrested, accused of stealing doses of Moderna s COVID-19 vaccine
By Fox 13 News staff
Published
Ken Suarez reports
LAKELAND, Fla. - A paramedic in Polk County has been arrested for allegedly falsifying paperwork for stolen doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
The sheriff s office said a Polk County Fire Rescue paramedic, identified as 31-year-old Joshua Colon, is accused of assisting a fire captain in the theft of Moderna vaccine doses. The agency was directed to administer the COVID-19 vaccines to first responders.
While going through paperwork filed by Colon, fire rescue officials noticed discrepancies and contacted the sheriff s office. Each first responder was required to complete and sign a Florida Health COVID-19 vaccine form, which would be collected by the medical personnel providing the dose.