Two Hillsborough County Men Arrested for Falsifying Official State DCF Records

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) special agents have charged two Tampa men with falsifying official state records related to child welfare services.

Andrew Joseph, 36, was arrested at his home this morning and charged with 33 counts of falsifying official records, a third-degree felony. In May 2007, Joseph’s employer Youth and Family Alternatives, a sub-contractor of Hillsborough Kids Inc., brought their concerns to the Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Office of the Inspector General. The Office of the Inspector General researched the potential criminal activity and requested an FDLE investigation. The investigation found that while Joseph worked as a care manager at Youth and Family Alternatives he falsified official records by documenting that he conducted interviews with children and foster parents on 33 occasions when, in fact, he had not.

Joseph worked as a contract employee from April 24, 2006 through Nov, 7, 2006. He resigned November 7, 2006. Joseph was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

Robert Matthew Vilardebo, 34, turned himself in to the Hillsborough County Jail and charged with two counts of falsifying official records, a third-degree felony. In October 2007, the child welfare services provider Children’s Home Society, a sub-contractor of Hillsborough Kids Inc. approached the Department of Children and Families’ Office of the Inspector General regarding suspicion of potential criminal activity. DCF’s Office of the Inspector General requested an FDLE investigation. The investigation found that while Vilardebo worked as a care manager at Children’s Home Society, he falsely recorded two face-to-face visits with children and caregivers. Vilardebo worked as a care manager from November 2004 through March 2006. He resigned on March 28, 2006. Vilardebo was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail on a $4,000.

The Department of Children and Families contracts with social services providers throughout the state, including Hillsborough Kids Inc., in Hillsborough County, to deliver child welfare services. Children’s Home Society and Youth and Family Alternatives sub-contract with Hillsborough Kids Inc. for specific case management duties.