Fort Lauderdale parks worker faces fraud charges

A Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation worker and another Broward man were hit Friday with federal fraud charges for a scheme involving a city-issued credit card.

Phillip Richard Peterson, 42, of Coral Springs, Florida, was charged in a 50-count indictment with theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, wire fraud and conspiracy, the United States Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Gino Joseph Ferraro, 49, of Fort Lauderdale, was also charged in four counts in the indictment, with participating in the conspiracy and substantive counts of wire fraud, the statement said.

The indictment alleges that between 2013 and 2017, Peterson used a city credit card to buy items that were later sold to a local pawn shop.

Each year between 2013 and 2017, Peterson allegedly stole more than $5,000 worth of merchandise this way, according to the indictment.

Investigators say that Peterson also conspired with Ferraro to charge Lauderdale’s Parks and Recreation Department for volleyball court repairs and other items that were not completed or provided.

Peterson is set to be arraigned on Friday, while Ferro has a federal court date on Oct. 17.