CENTRAL FLORIDA — A Brazilian business owner who lives in an upscale townhome in Metrowest is accused of taking thousands of dollars from taxpayers.
Ricardo Amar, who owns a luxury car business, is facing felony charges, but he told Channel 9 that the whole thing is a misunderstanding.
Channel 9 asked how someone who sells high-end cars, including Ferraris, could qualify for state benefits, including Medicaid and food stamps. Documents showed that he collected a total of $11,395 over the course of three years for which he did not qualify.
The Department of Children and Families said no one in his home was employed for years, but his LinkedIn page shows that he is the president and CEO of VCR Import and Export, a luxury car business.
In 2014, while on government assistance, Amar's company spent more than $175,000 on goods and his wife listed her employer as Orlando Tickets Online.
Amar told investigators that he did not report his wife's job "out of ignorance," according to documents.
In a statement to investigators, Amar said he never intended to commit fraud and it was out of necessity, a lack of understanding and in consideration of the net value that came in for the family.
The state has asked for more than $15,000 in restitution.