Authorities have charged three men in the paving industry with money laundering in Lehigh Acres, leading to the seizure of a home and cash.
"If they were up to no good, they get what they deserve so," a neighbor said.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office searched a Lehigh Acres home in late June, revealing its connection to a money laundering scheme involving three men in the paving industry.
Detectives arrested Miguel Quintana, 37, in June while he was working at Ajax Paving Industries of Florida.
Investigators discovered that Quintana and his coworker, Robernys Llumbet, were stealing material by the truckload from the plant.
The trucks involved in the suspicious incidents were from C&M Asphalt, owned by 66-year-old Jose Romero.
All three men are accused of running a complex scheme using various bank accounts and companies to deceive Ajax Paving.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office says the men made almost half a million dollars from the scheme and used the money for their lavish lifestyle.
This house on 6th Street SW was built with the money.
"It’s been a little bit over a year now since we’ve lived here," Erica Pantoja said, who can see the house from her backyard.
The home and $400,000 in cash seized in the investigation are now back in the hands of the Lee County Sheriff.
"I think it’s crazy. I never really expected it because this neighborhood is such a really calm neighborhood. We don’t hear anything about any bad things going on here. That’s why," Pantoja added.
All three men are facing charges of theft, fraud and money laundering.