A local business owner is under investigation for allegedly orchestrating a scheme that defrauded Synchrony Bank of $667,000.
Angela Binaggia-Cicio, 46, the owner of SEL Florida LLC, a purported solar company, is accused of using fraudulent credit applications to siphon funds from Synchrony Bank without providing any actual services. According to an affidavit filed by the Financial Crimes Unit of the Osceola County Sheriff ’s Office, the investigation began in May 2024. Binaggia-Cicio reportedly opened a merchant account with Synchrony Bank, which allowed customers to finance SEL Florida’s services through credit applications.
Authorities say SEL Florida engaged in a fraudulent billing scheme, known as shell company fraud, by having associates and customers submit credit applications under false pretenses. Once the credit was approved, Synchrony Bank would pay SEL Florida for the supposed services rendered. Instead of performing any work, Binaggia-Cicio allegedly funneled a large portion of the funds back to the applicants through wire transfers and Zelle payments, effectively creating a kickback operation that benefited both parties while leaving Synchrony Bank at a financial loss.
The investigation was initiated after Synchrony Bank’s Special Investigations Team flagged irregular transactions linked to SEL Florida. A deeper probe revealed that SEL Florida had generated over half a million dollars in fraudulent charges within five months of operation, starting in November 2023.
Reports said investigators visited multiple addresses associated with the credit applications and found discrepancies, including false identities and non-existent recipients. In some cases, supposed customers of SEL Florida denied receiving services or were unaware their identities had been used for credit applications.
Investigators noted that SEL Florida’s business expenses did not appear to be legitimate as there were no records of payroll, equipment purchases or other costs typically associated with a functioning solar company.
Traffic stop leads to fentanyl sales arrest
A routine traffic stop in Kissimmee led to the driver’s arrest after police found fentanyl and other narcotics, cash and suspected drug distribution materials inside the vehicle.
A Kissimmee police officer on patrol about 1 p.m. stopped a vehicle for running a stop sign at Flora Boulevard and Thornton Road. The driver, later identified as Johnny Medina-Torres, 34, of Orlando, was also not wearing a seatbelt.
Police obtained consent to search the vehicle and found 16 red baggies containing a brown/off-white powder, later confirmed as fentanyl, as well as five clear bags containing a white powdery substance, identified as cocaine. The combined weight of the narcotics totaled 18 grams— nine grams of fentanyl and nine grams of cocaine.
Additionally, officers found five buprenorphine hydrochloride pills, a prescription opioid, along with nearly $600 in small denomination bills, commonly associated with street-level drug sales, reports said. Two debit cards belonging to individuals not known to Torres were also found.
During the investigation, Torres admitted to purchasing cocaine but denied knowledge of the other drugs. While detained, two of his three cellphones received continuous text messages and calls, many of which displayed dollar amounts, further raising suspicions of active drug transactions.
Torres was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including trafficking in fentanyl over 4 grams, possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, transportation of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of personal identification information.
Kissimmee man pleads guilty to fentanyl and cocaine charges
A Kissimmee man has pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Raul Rodriguez-Jimenez, 37, faces a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. According to court documents, between Dece. 13, 2023, and Aug. 29, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration used an undercover agent to conduct five controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine from Rodriguez-Jimenez through an investigation. On Feb. 9, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Rodriguez-Jimenez’s residence and located more than 1,700 grams of cocaine and over 230 grams of fentanyl.
Kissimmee senior sentenced on federal child sexual abuse material charges
A U.S. District judge has sentenced Stephen Michael Lippincott, 70, to 25 years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material. Lippincott was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender.
According to court records, on Jan. 18, 2024, Lippincott was embarking on a cruise to the Bahamas when his cellular phone was searched by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Jax Port Cruise Terminal. The CBP received a possible warrant for indecent exposure Lippincott had out of New Jersey. The search led to the discovery that Lippincott was communicating with multiple female children aged 8 to 14 on social media platforms. Lippincott also had sent at least six female children money to watch him engage in sexual acts he then recorded on his cell phone.
“Violating the innocence of a child is a detestable act and a betrayal of the trust that fortifies the safety of our communities,” said Tim Hemker, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville assistant Special Agent in Charge. “Alongside our partners at the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Jacksonville, HSI will not rest until every predator who seeks to sexually exploit children is brought to justice.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
