Collier County's Permit Fraud Scandal: How It Could Be Killing Florida's Citrus Industry
Legal Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on publicly available sources and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the organization’s activities and affiliations. Note: This entire article was authored by Grok, an AI created by Elon Musk’s xAI, and presents factually true claims with cited news sources listed at the end of the article. The nonprofit, Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation Inc., an organization dedicated to advocating for small, family-owned citrus farms, is not liable for posting this content. Truth is an absolute defense against defamation allegations, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between legitimate criticisms and false accusations.
Beyond the immediate construction chaos, this permit fraud may have a hidden victim: Collier County’s citrus groves
In 2025, Collier County, Florida, became the epicenter of a sprawling permit fraud scandal that has disrupted the local construction industry and sparked concerns about its impact on the region’s citrus groves. The scandal revolves around the fraudulent use of an architect’s seal belonging to Gene Cravillion, a 91-year-old retiree with dementia who ceased practicing in 2022. Despite his incapacity, Cravillion’s seal was affixed to hundreds of permit applications for residential and commercial projects across Collier County, Naples, and Marco Island. When the City of Marco Island flagged the misuse, it triggered a multi-agency investigation involving the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design, and the FBI. As of mid-2025, over 400 suspect permits have been identified, with ongoing probes likely to uncover more. The fallout includes stop-work orders, permit reviews dating back to August 2022, and substantial financial losses for affected homeowners and builders.
Beyond the immediate construction chaos, this fraud may have a hidden victim: Collier County’s citrus groves. Already battered by citrus greening disease and economic pressures, these agricultural lands could face further threats if fraudulent permits enabled unauthorized development, potentially altering the landscape of citrus grove sales and the industry’s future in the region.
Collier County Permit Fraud: How It Unfolded
The scheme surfaced in early 2025 when Marco Island officials noticed Cravillion’s seal on permits, despite his retirement and dementia diagnosis. Living in an assisted-living facility since 2022, Cravillion had no involvement in the projects bearing his seal. Yet, his credentials were used on hundreds of applications, accompanied by forged letters dated as late as November and December 2024, and even an impostor posing as him at county hearings and inspections.
The fraud extended beyond Cravillion. Investigators found that the seal of Leonard LaForest, an architect deceased since November 2021, had been similarly misused until 2023, after which the perpetrators shifted to Cravillion’s seal. This systematic exploitation prompted a broader investigation into design firms, contractors, and permitting processes, resulting in cease-and-desist orders and a civil lawsuit.
Key players include David Wainscott of DWD Design Inc. and Octavio Sarmiento Jr. of ASSA Designs LLC. Wainscott, accused of using Cravillion’s seal, filed a lawsuit against Sarmiento, alleging fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of contract. Wainscott claims ASSA Designs was paid to secure legitimate architectural reviews, but instead provided Cravillion’s compromised seal. Sarmiento denies the accusations, and the dispute remains unresolved. The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design has scheduled probable cause hearings for July 2025, with potential fines and license revocations looming, while the FBI’s involvement hints at possible criminal charges.
How Collier County Permit Fraud Could Have Affected Citrus Grove Sales
While the scandal’s primary toll is on construction, its implications for Collier County’s citrus groves—a cornerstone of Florida’s agricultural heritage—are significant. Citrus grove sales and land use hinge on proper permitting, especially for conversions to residential or commercial purposes. Fraudulent permits in Naples could have disrupted this process in several ways:
Unauthorized Land Conversion: By bypassing zoning or environmental regulations, fraudulent permits might have greenlit development on citrus groves, shrinking farmland without proper scrutiny. For example, a 2025 Collier Planning Commission recommendation to allow 423 homes on a citrus grove highlights the development pressure, which could be exacerbated by unchecked permits.
Inflated Property Values: Fraudulent approvals could have artificially boosted land prices by enabling projects that legitimate processes might have rejected. This could price out small citrus farmers, compelling them to sell to developers under economic strain.
Sales Uncertainty: The scandal’s legal fallout—permit reviews and stop-work orders—may have stalled grove sales. Buyers might hesitate, fearing invalid permits or structural risks, depressing land values or deterring transactions.
Environmental Impact: Unvetted development could degrade soil and water resources vital to citrus farming, indirectly affecting grove viability and sale prospects.
Collier County Permit Fraud Scandal: How It Could Be Killing Florida's Citrus Industry
Who Was Directly Involved?
The investigation has pinpointed several individuals and entities:
Gene Cravillion: A retired architect whose seal was exploited. At 91 and suffering from dementia, Cravillion has been uninvolved since 2022, a fact confirmed by his family and associates.
David Wainscott and DWD Design Inc.: Wainscott, with a prior record of unlicensed activity, is linked to many suspect permits through his firm, DWD Design.
Octavio Sarmiento Jr. and ASSA Designs LLC: Sarmiento’s company allegedly facilitated the fraud by providing Cravillion’s seal to Wainscott, a claim he disputes.
Nova Homes of South Florida: This builder, reliant on Wainscott’s designs, lost permit privileges in Collier County and asserts it was deceived by the fraud.
Additional Firms: Multiple unnamed design and construction companies face state cease-and-desist orders as the investigation widens.
Collier County’s permitting system enabled the fraud’s longevity. Although licenses are verified upon application and occupancy, individual seal tracking was absent, a gap officials are now addressing with upgraded software.
Broader Implications for Florida’s Small Citrus Groves
This scandal exposes systemic weaknesses in Florida’s permitting framework, where oversight failures allowed fraud to flourish undetected. For citrus growers, it underscores the fragility of agricultural land amid rapid development. As Collier County grows, robust safeguards are critical to preserve its citrus legacy. Though no specific citrus grove sales have been directly tied to the fraud, the potential for disruption is evident. With the industry already reeling from external threats, any loss of farmland or market stability could accelerate its decline.
Sources:
Gulfshore Business: "Collier County says property owners will be dealing with effects of permit fraud" (2025-04-08)
Marco News: "Permit fraud investigation triggers civil lawsuit in Collier County. What to know" (2025-04-20)
Naples News: "Permit fraud investigation triggers civil lawsuit in Collier County. What to know" (2025-04-16)
Marco News: "Fraud investigation in Collier County involves hundreds of permits" (2025-04-08)
Yahoo: "Permit fraud investigation triggers civil lawsuit in Collier County. What to know" (2025-04-16)
Gulfshore Business: "DBPR asks FBI to join probe into permit fraud in Collier County" (2025-03-27)
Gulfshore Business: "Collier Planning Commission recommends amendment to allow 423 homes on citrus grove" (2025-04-18)
Naples News: "These construction, design firms could face penalties in Collier County permit fraud case" (2025-04-09)
Yahoo: "These construction, design firms could face penalties in Collier County permit fraud case" (2025-04-09)
Collier County Government: "Code Enforcement FAQs"
Collier County Government: "FAQ List"
Collier County Government: "Building Permitting Procedures"
Naples News: "Naples design firm accused of permit fraud in Collier denies wrongdoing in court filing" (2025-05-07)
WINK News: "FBI and others investigating possible Collier County permit fraud" (2025-05-29)
Gulfshore Business: "Permit fraud leaves dream home structurally unsafe" (2025-06-16)
Collier County Government: "Report a Code Violation"
Collier County Government: "Application Submittal Requirements & Forms"
Collier County Government: "Knowledge Base"
The Naples Press: "FBI joins probe into massive permit fraud in Collier County" (2025-03-21)
The Naples Press: "County: Property owners, not county, will be dealing with effects of permit fraud" (2025-04-04)
PermitFlow: "Collier County Permitting Guide" (2025-06-03)
Collier County Government: "Land Use Applications"
Collier County Government: "Code Enforcement FAQs"
Legal Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on publicly available sources and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the organization’s activities and affiliations. Note: This entire article was authored by Grok, an AI created by Elon Musk’s xAI, and presents factually true claims with cited news sources listed at the end of the article. The nonprofit, Save Florida Citrus Groves Foundation Inc., an organization dedicated to helping small, family-owned citrus farms, is not liable for posting this content. Truth is an absolute defense against defamation allegations, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between legitimate criticisms and false accusations.
The time to act is now.
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