TALLAHASSEE- Today, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the arrest of public insurance adjuster Francisco Javier Chaparro-Araus, after an alleged theft of over $703,000 in Hurricane Ian claim funds. The arrest was made by investigators within the Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division (CID) after Chaparro-Araus misappropriated funds belonging to 13 homeowners by allegedly forging victims’ names, concealing insurance settlement checks from victims, and refusing to pay victims after being contacted.

Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said, “Floridians face the devastating consequences of hurricanes each year, but what they absolutely should not have to deal with is criminals attempting to steal from them when they have already lost so much. This criminal thought he could profit from their vulnerability, but the only thing he’s collecting now is a jail sentence. I applaud the work of my investigators for putting Chaparro-Araus behind bars.” In 2022, when Hurricane Ian made landfall, Chaparro-Araus exploited vulnerable homeowners who sustained property damage. He submitted claims to various insurance carriers on behalf of the victims and was able to deposit the funds into his business account. Chaparro-Araus was able to deplete the money through online transfers, Zelle transfers, wire transfers, check card purchases, and cash withdrawals from casinos.

Francisco Javier Chaparro-Araus was arrested on March 30, 2026. He has been charged with organized fraud, financial exploitation of an elderly person, diversion and misappropriation of a premium, and failure to report and account for funds.

Prosecution of this case falls under the jurisdiction of the Broward County State Attorney’s Office. The Department of Financial Services encourages anyone with knowledge of insurance fraud to report it at FraudFreeFlorida.com | Florida Department of Financial Services.

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