Naples man could get 100 years for $1.2M scheme

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — A Naples man could get up to 100 years in prison when he’s convicted of stealing from an elderly victim.

Luis Emilio Hernandez, 45, of Naples, found his victim after Hurricane Ian in 2022. He convinced the 85-year-old to write him personal checks totaling more than $1.2 million for construction materials and repairs.

Hernandez did not do the repairs and never bought the materials.

Instead, he cashed the checks and used the funds for his own personal gain.

Federal investigators said Hernandez did not hold a contractor’s license and did not pull the permits to do the promised work.

Hernandez continued to persuade the victim to write checks to him even after the victim sold the house, and it was torn down. Hernandez would go to the victim’s assisted living residence and convince them to give him more money.

He hid the source of the funds by laundering it through buying and reselling vehicles at several dealerships throughout the area.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering in a scheme to defraud an elderly victim. His sentencing date has not been set.