Widespread Architectural Permit Fraud Uncovered in Collier County, Triggering Federal Investigation

Hundreds of Building Projects Under Scrutiny as Collier County Uncovers Widespread Architectural Fraud

A major permit fraud investigation is unfolding in Collier County, revealing that hundreds of construction plans—both residential and commercial—may have been fraudulently submitted using the signature and seal of a retired and incapacitated architect, according to a recent article by Laura Layden of Naples Daily News.

The plans, dating back to August 2022, bear the architectural stamp of 91-year-old Gene Cravillion, who has not actively practiced in years and is currently living in an assisted living facility in Naples due to dementia. His family and associates confirmed his condition, expressing shock and concern over the misuse of his credentials.

The fraudulent use of Cravillion’s digital seal has triggered investigations by multiple state and federal agencies, including the FBI, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), and the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design. Collier County officials have issued stop-work orders on all active projects tied to the case, requiring a new, licensed design professional to review and re-certify plans before work can resume.

John McCormick, director of the county’s building review division, described the fraud as “substantial,” explaining that someone had unauthorized access to Cravillion’s digital signature and used it to approve approximately 400 permits. With no software to automate the search, the county faces a daunting manual review of nearly 200,000 permits.

At a recent county commission meeting, officials stressed that while Collier is cooperating fully, the licensing aspect falls under state jurisdiction. If criminal charges are filed, the county’s Contractors’ Licensing Board may take further enforcement action to ensure the perpetrator can’t repeat the offense locally.

The fraudulent plans have also impacted the cities of Naples and Marco Island. Naples officials have identified at least five permits bearing Cravillion’s seal and are actively investigating. Marco Island acknowledged the fraud but hasn’t disclosed how many projects are involved.

Design firms and builders have been caught off guard. Some received warning letters from the state regarding unlicensed activity. Among them was Jim Allen, a long-time collaborator of Cravillion, who said he had no knowledge of the fraudulent activity and stopped using Cravillion’s services in 2021.

The alleged motive? Greed. Architectural services can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per job. Those behind the fraud may have profited significantly while Cravillion, in his diminished capacity, was likely unaware and uncompensated.

The fraudulent seal has been linked to several design firms, including Wainscott Designs and ASSA Designs. State records show that David Wainscott, who has a prior history of unlicensed work, was previously involved in a similar case involving the credentials of the late architect Leonard LaForest.

Builder Nova Homes of Southwest Florida was caught up in both the LaForest and Cravillion cases. Although Nova claims to have been a victim and not a participant in the fraud, one of its clients, Monika Gatto, played a key role in alerting the state to suspicious documents related to her home’s construction. Gatto claims unauthorized changes were made to her home without proper approval, and documents were submitted with Cravillion’s stamp—documents she believes he never signed.

Nova has since cut ties with Wainscott and hired a new architectural team. While its permit-pulling privileges remain suspended, the company says it has resolved all issues connected to the fraudulent permits and can continue working on active jobs.

“This started as a paperwork issue,” said Nova executive Eric Pacheco, “and escalated into something far more serious.”

As for Gatto, she says this goes far beyond clerical errors.

“We’re living through a nightmare,” she said. “There were too many people who didn’t do their jobs.”

With local officials, design professionals, and homeowners caught in the fallout, this developing investigation is sending shockwaves through Collier County’s construction industry—and it’s far from over.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News

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