Sarasota real estate broker pleads guilty to benefits fraud

A Sarasota real estate broker has pleaded guilty to federal charges that he collected nearly $300,000 in disability payments without reporting he was continuing to work, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa announced Monday.

According to court records, Allen R. Jenkins, 68, was indicted in November 2022 after investigators discovered Jenkins, who had been receiving United States Railroad Retirement disability payments, was actively working in multiple capacities from 2004 to 2022 and failed to report any of that work as required. 

Prosecutors said Jenkins was listed as a registered agent/officer of at least 22 businesses, maintained five real estate broker’s licenses, and was licensed and working as a community association manager. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also said Jenkins gave false, incomplete and misleading answers on the one occasion he was directly asked about his work activity. 

Jenkins was also buying and renovating properties for profit, which he did not report, prosecutors said. 

The United States Railroad Retirement Board estimated it overpaid him approximately $271,124 in disability benefits.

Jenkins, and his wife, Julie Jenkins, were both brokers for White Sands Realty Group, according to Michael Burke, of White Sands Realty Group Florida, a separate company. Burke said while the two firms shared marketing several years ago, the two companies are separate entities. 

Jenkins could face up to 10 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30, court records show.