Florida's Moving Fraud Crackdown by the Numbers: $32M+ in Penalties, 6 Networks Shut Down

The Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division, working jointly with the DOT Office of Inspector General, has produced over $32 million in penalties, restitution, and judgments against moving fraud networks operating from South Florida. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the FL AG's office the Inspector General Partnership Award for 'Operation Moving Target,' recognizing it as the standout state partner in moving fraud enforcement. FMCSA, the federal agency responsible for household goods enforcement, has closed zero broker enforcement cases since September 2024.

Here is the complete record.

1. All USA Van Lines / Ohad Guzi: $21,789,306 Final judgment May 20, 2022, Broward County. $5.28 million in restitution and $16.5 million in civil penalties. Permanent injunction. Filed December 2018 against 7 individuals and 19 household goods moving companies. Companies used false advertising, low-price binding estimates, took custody of goods, raised prices, held hostage. Used untrained laborers who damaged, destroyed, and stole property. DOT-OIG conducted investigation jointly with FL AG.

2. Alliance Moving / Richard Falcone: $3,700,000 Civil judgment September 9, 2025, Palm Beach County. $3,000,000 from Alliance and $700,000 from Falcone. 5 companies: Alliance Moving and Storage (f/k/a Falcone Consulting Group, dba Atlas Moving), American Wide Relocation (dba National Express Van Lines), First Priority Van Lines, American Movers and Storage (GA). At least 150 consumers affected. Companies held belongings hostage for cash ransoms. Some consumers' goods went missing for months.

3. Gold Standard Moving / Charles Abrams: $3,419,000 Consent final judgment March 6, 2025, Broward County. $3,019,000 from Gold Standard and $400,000 from Abrams. Permanent injunction and industry bar. 9 companies from Pompano Beach sharing addresses at 2700 W Atlantic Blvd (Suites 100, 114, 204, 208). 3 individuals named.

4. Amerisafe / Frank DeSantis and Frank Lucido: $1,834,000 Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, May 2026. Includes restitution, penalties, and $64,241 in attorney fees. 10 entities: AMS Moving (Amerisafe), Cross Country Moving Group, Eagle Moving Group (New Start Relocation), JDS Moving Enterprises, JL Moving Enterprises, Long Distance Movers, National Moving Group, NW Management Services, plus 2 individuals. Committed to support FMCSA rule amendments.

5. Navistar Van Lines / Zane Taranto: $1,834,000 Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, February 10, 2026. Includes restitution, penalties, and $64,241 in attorney fees. 18 companies operated by one individual. Largest single-person network documented. Companies: Coast To Coast Moving, Excalibur Moving Group, American Standard Moving, First United Moving, Mov Smart, US Standard Moving, Cardinal Van Lines, Complete Vanlines, Vintage Van Lines, Standard Van Lines, US Standard Van Lines, Pan Transit Vanlines, First American Moving, Navistar Van Lines, Concorde Van Lines, Navistar Accounting, NYC Holdings.

6. HomeSafe Transit / Mitchel Kane Malizio: settlement amount undisclosed Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, September 11, 2025. 21-page settlement. No admission of wrongdoing.

Coastal Moving Services / Robert Castro and Stephen Barbuto: Investigation ongoing. 229 NCCDB complaints (#4 nationally). 427 BBB complaints. 4 companies under investigation. Both owners served with subpoenas November 12, 2025. Neither complied. AG petitioned court to compel (CACE-26-001697 and CACE-26-001688, January 30, 2026).

America First Moving Services / Michel Jean Geraud: Investigation ongoing. Subpoena served October 2, 2025. Geraud did not comply. AG petitioned court to compel (CACE-26-000640, January 13, 2026).

Menards Moving and Storage: 331 NCCDB complaints. Highest of any broker in 2026. Accelerating. No FL AG action disclosed.

Safe Ship Moving Services: 404 NCCDB complaints. #1 nationally. No FL AG action disclosed.

Documented FL AG moving fraud enforcement totals:

Total penalties and restitution: $32,576,306+ (across 6 resolved cases) Companies named: 60+ (across all cases) Individuals named: 15+ Permanent injunctions: 2 (All USA Van Lines, Gold Standard) Settlements without admission: 4 (Amerisafe, Navistar, HomeSafe, and earlier Gold Standard/National American settlement in Nov 2023)

Separately, DOT OIG reported to Congress in August 2023 that over the prior 5 years, OIG investigated 25 household goods moving fraud cases resulting in 22 convictions, 34+ years of incarceration, and $33.7 million in fines, forfeiture, recoveries, and restitution.

The FL AG has used state consumer protection authority (FDUTPA) rather than the federal enforcement coordination process under 49 USC 14710-14711. The state law path has produced dollar outcomes that exceed FMCSA's entire household goods enforcement record in any comparable period.