What happens when the very people entrusted to protect the most vulnerable turn out to be the ones exploiting them?

That’s the disturbing question at the center of a massive fraud case involving two men from Florida who allegedly siphoned more than $100 million from a nonprofit that was supposed to safeguard the financial futures of people with disabilities.

Federal prosecutors have now unsealed an indictment, laying out a scheme they say spanned more than 15 years—and left a trail of betrayal, deception, and financial ruin.

Prosecutors Say Funds Meant for the Disabled Were Turned Into a “Personal Piggy Bank”

According to the Justice Department, the two defendants—Leo John Govoni, 67, of Clearwater, and John Leo Witeck, 60, of Tampa—ran a scheme that funneled millions from a nonprofit organization known as the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration (CSNT) into their own pockets.

Matthew R. Galeotti, who heads the DOJ’s Criminal Division, said the defendants treated the money meant for special needs clients like it was their own.

“They stole from the most vulnerable members of our society to enrich themselves,” he stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to bringing such offenders to justice.

CSNT Was Once a Lifeline—Now It’s in Shambles

CSNT was founded around the year 2000 to manage money for people with disabilities—particularly those who had received legal settlements or court awards.

Over the years, it became one of the country’s largest administrators of special needs trusts, overseeing funds for over 2,100 clients in nearly every state.

By early 2024, the organization managed approximately $200 million in trust accounts.

But all of that came crashing down. In 2024, CSNT filed for bankruptcy.

That’s when the full scale of the damage was revealed: more than $100 million had vanished from client trust accounts.

How the Alleged Scheme Worked

Between June 2009 and May 2025, Govoni, Witeck, and others allegedly siphoned off money from these trust accounts.

The indictment claims they disguised their theft through fake account statements and complex financial transactions that kept clients in the dark.

What did they do with the stolen money? According to prosecutors, Govoni used it to buy real estate, travel on private jets, fund a brewery, and even pay off personal debts.

Some of the cash reportedly went directly into his personal accounts.

To make matters worse, Govoni is also accused of lying under oath during bankruptcy proceedings and committing bank fraud involving a $3 million mortgage refinance loan, along with laundering part of the proceeds.

Federal Agencies Sound Off on the Deep Impact

The case has drawn strong reactions from top officials across multiple agencies.

Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI condemned the alleged fraud, saying it “drained the resources of a nonprofit and betrayed the trust of an entire community.”

Guy Ficco from the IRS called the act “as cruel as it is criminal,” while Christian Schrank from HHS said the defendants not only defrauded federal healthcare programs but also disrupted access to critical services for people with disabilities.

Charges Filed and Potential Prison Time

The two men are now facing a long list of federal charges.

Both Govoni and Witeck were hit with:

Conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud
Wire fraud
Mail fraud
Money laundering conspiracy

In addition, Govoni faces charges of:

Bank fraud
Engaging in illegal monetary transactions
False declarations in bankruptcy court

If convicted, both men could face up to 20 years in prison on most of the core fraud and conspiracy charges.

For Govoni, the sentence could go as high as 30 years for bank fraud, 10 years for the monetary transactions, and 5 years for lying to the bankruptcy court.

A Multi-Agency Effort to Crack Down on High-Level Fraud

This case is being investigated by an impressive coalition of federal agencies: the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG).

Trial Attorney Lyndie Freeman from the DOJ’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Peresie and Michael Gordon are handling the prosecution.

What Happens Next?

Although these charges are serious, it’s important to remember that an indictment is not a conviction.

Both Govoni and Witeck are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

As the legal process unfolds, this case serves as a sobering reminder of the potential for abuse, even within organizations created to protect society’s most vulnerable.

The next step? A courtroom reckoning—one that victims, advocates, and watchdogs across the nation will be watching closely.