Naples permit-fraud figure fined $100K by state

A Naples planning and permit firm owner has been fined $100,000 for his participation in a wide-ranging permit-fraud scheme involving the illegal use of an elderly retired architect’s seal. 

It’s the highest fine levied by the state so far in the wide-ranging Collier County investigation that ended in 25 professionals and businesses cited for using the architectural seal of retired architect Gene Cravillion, now 92. He’s been in a North Naples memory care facility since August 2022 and has suffered from dementia since 2012.  

The case affected more than 400 homes and commercial buildings countywide, in addition to 76 on Marco Island and five in Naples; an exact number hasn’t been disclosed. It’s resulted in several lawsuits by homeowners whose homes’ structural integrity was affected. 

Octavio Sarmiento, who owns ASSA (Agencias Sarmiento S.A.), had faced the largest fine out of all initially charged by the state, $425,000, but because it was his first offense, he and his attorney stipulated to a reduction to $100,000 in April, according to state Board of Architecture and Interior Design minutes. Sarmiento, who was Cravillion’s last business partner, was charged with 107 counts: practicing as an architect, presenting an architect’s license and using the title of an architect on his website. 

Sarmiento’s case was the last of four to be heard by the board during an April 21 hearing in Gainesville. An FBI investigation is continuing. During a board hearing last summer, prosecutor David Minacci said Sarmiento faces up to two years in a federal prison. Records show neither Sarmiento nor his attorney attended the hearing. He has not responded to requests for comment. 

The state board’s case against 25 Naples designers, contractors and businesses was investigated by Melissa Minacci, the board’s investigator. All were involved in some way — some unaware of the fraud — because many hired Sarmiento, who used Cravillion’s seal and signature to obtain building permits. Records show his firm also took continuing education classes as Cravillion and renewed Cravillion’s state license. 

When Naples designer Dave Wainscott was fined $24,000 in 2023 for using a dead architect’s seal, it was the highest fine meted out in the board’s history. He’d used deceased architect Leonard LaForest’s seal 50 times on Marco Island and elsewhere more than a year after his death — and more than three years after it was suspended. Records also show Wainscott’s mother-in-law, Christine Ritter, notarized documents saying LaForest signed the documents in her presence, although he’d been dead 86 days. She was never disciplined and has since died. 

Wainscott, who has a history of unlicensed activity spanning more than three decades, was charged with 63 counts involving the use of Cravillion’s seal, and the probable cause panel in July recommended a $189,000 fine. In January, he and his attorney agreed to a stipulated settlement of $50,000 for 63 counts of practicing architecture without a license, unless other victims are found. Records show he paid the fine a month later. 

Wainscott has sued Sarmiento, blaming him for harming his reputation and causing escalating costs, and that case is pending. 

Cravillion’s son, Tom, has said his father was an award-winning, well-respected architect, but not a great businessman so he partnered with Sarmiento to handle the business side. He said his father had designed numerous hospitals, schools, jails, prisons, nursing homes and health care facilities in Wisconsin, and homes in Naples. However, as his cognitive decline began in 2012, he later took over his father’s affairs, and his father fully retired in early 2020. 

During the April hearing, the board rejected reducing a fine against Linda L. Levin and Argon Associates Ltd. to $18,000, noting the six-count case was egregious and she was aiding and abetting unlicensed architecture by stamping multiple plans. The board unanimously imposed the maximum, $30,000, plus costs, to be paid within 30 days of the final order. 

Isaiah Trujillo and his company, Tru Drafting & Design Inc., were fined $1,310, plus costs, for one count of practicing architecture without a license. Board minutes show it was reduced from $3,000 because it was his first offense, he was counseled in the law and agreed to come into compliance. 

Santiago Pinilla and his company, SP Drafting LLC, were fined $1,000 for a one-count complaint, a reduction from $3,000 because it was his first offense. 

Three companies settled in November, four cases were closed without a finding of probable cause in July, and another against a company that doesn’t exist in state or county records was closed last June, marked “legally insufficient.”