Public adjuster accused of insurance fraud after Hurricane Ian faces additional charges

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

After suffering storm damage, some people will hire public adjusters to help them get more money out of their insurance claim.

Typically, the adjuster gets a cut of that.

But one public adjuster, Francisco Chaparro, took much more than just a cut, according to state investigators.

Gulf Coast News first told you about Chaparro last year. He was facing three felony charges, accused of failing to remit to a homeowner more than $100,000 he got from her insurance company.

The victim in that case is a 68-year-old widow.

Now, Chaparro is facing even more charges. State investigators say he withheld more than $600,000 in insurance settlement checks from ten separate policyholders, failing to give them the money they were owed.

The money was depleted in different ways, including through large withdrawals at casinos, according to investigators.

Last year, a woman in Lehigh Acres told Gulf Coast News she was among Chaparro's victims.

“I feel like I’m never going to get my house fixed. That’s what I feel like,” Carla Dickey said in May of 2025. “I’m never going to get my house fixed. And I don’t want anybody to ever have to go through that.”

Dickey said she confirmed with investigators that she is among the ten policyholders referenced in the newest criminal charges.

The first case against Chaparro is still working its way through the court. He pleaded not guilty in that case and again pleaded not guilty to the new charges.

If you’re thinking about hiring a public adjuster, experts urge you to do your homework. Ensure the adjuster has a license, and find recent reviews and testimonials that can vouch for who you're hiring. Make sure they’re reputable and avoid public adjusters that only pop in after a major storm.

A public adjuster can help you get more money, but hiring one could slow down the claims process, so be aware of that.

Additionally, public adjusters can only charge a certain percentage of your claim payment – and it’s even less during an emergency.

The Florida CFO offers this advice to keep in mind when hiring a public adjuster.

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