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HCSO Looking for Additional Victims of Local AC Company Owner Arrested for Fraud

For Immediate Release : Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Release Number: 22-136

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HCSO Looking for Additional Victims of Local AC Company Owner Arrested for Fraud

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is looking for additional victims of a suspect recently arrested for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a business in Tampa.

In October 2020, COVE Behavioral Health hired Appliance Tech Solutions to complete a large air conditioning project at their facility located at 4422 E Columbus Drive in Tampa. COVE paid ATS $238,920 over a period of time via wire transfers and checks to order parts and start the job. The owner of the company, who COVE dealt with directly, made excuses as to why products were never ordered or delivered. 

HCSO Economic Crimes Detectives investigated and acquired enough evidence to find probable cause. Deputies arrested 30-year-old Gavin Vasquez on October 4, 2022, and charged him with 1st Degree Grand Theft Over $100K (1st degree felony).

"Here in Hillsborough County, we believe in an honest day's work for an honest day's pay," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "It appears that Mr. Vasquez had plenty of opportunities in the last two years to be honest and do the job he was hired to do. Instead, our smart and very capable detectives in the Economic Crimes Section got involved, and put an end to his fraudulent activity."

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is looking for additional potential victims of Gavin Vasquez. Anyone with more information, or who feels they may have been a victim, is asked to call and talk to detectives at (813) 247-8200.