TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An Alabama woman drove to Tampa for answers about her late father’s missing money, which she said was siphoned by Pinellas County businessman Leo Govoni.

“My feeling is this man killed my father,” said Melissa Beck, daughter of Govoni client Thomas Hancock. “My father could’ve gotten treatment. Maybe he could have survived the cancer? I don’t know, but there’s [a] possibility he could have.”

Two weeks ago, federal agents arrested Govoni and his longtime accountant, John Witeck, accusing them of embezzling $100 million over 15 years from people with special needs.

More people are coming forward saying they, too, trusted Govoni to safeguard their money, only to find it gone when they needed it most.

Beck said her dad needed chemo to fight cancer, but she said another Govoni-run non-profit called Medicare Set-Aside refused to pay for the treatments. Beck blamed Govoni for her father’s death.

Hancock was a hard-working man who never expected his life to come tumbling down.
             
Hancock was a painter by trade until 2007, when the scaffolding underneath him collapsed and he fell 30 feet, leaving him badly injured.
 
Hancock’s attorneys fought for him. When he was awarded money for his future medical care, they recommended he place the money with a Pinellas County-based company that specialized in safeguarding such funds: The Center for Medicare Set-Aside Administration.

“There was money in this account, but we had no access to this money,” Beck said.

Beck said her father only received one statement from Medicare Set-Aside. It was dated 2023, and it shows more than $347,000 in his account.
             
So, when Hancock got sick and his doctors said he needed chemotherapy, the family contacted Medicare Set-Aside for help, only to get an answer they never expected.

“Medicare set aside denied his chemotherapy treatment,” Beck said. “We never could figure out why,” said Beck.

Hancock died from COPD and cancer complications on May 16. He was 73 years old. Beck holds one man responsible for her father’s death: the man who founded Medicare Set-Aside, Leo Govoni.            

“I blame Mr. Govoni,” Beck said. “I blame Mr. Govoni for my father’s death. If he had not taken my father’s money, my father may still be alive. My father may not still be alive. I don’t know, but that’s a question that will never be answered.”

Beck said she didn’t discover the alleged scheme until after her father’s death.

“My dad had no knowledge that he was even being stolen from; that’s the worst part,” she said.

Govoni and Witeck were federally indicted for embezzling $100 million over a 15-year period from Govoni’s other non-profit that managed money, The Center for Special Needs Trust Administration based in St. Petersburg.

Before Govoni was handcuffed on June 23, 2025, we tried to press him for answers.

Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller asked Leo Govoni in May: “what would you say to the victims? how did you spend $120 million?”

Govoni did not respond.

The indictment paints a picture of Govoni living a life of luxury off the missing millions — buying a private jet, real estate, and a box at Raymond James Stadium.

Federal prosecutors said Govoni transferred over $1 million from his bank account to his wife, Jane Govoni. Beck wonders who else could have been involved.

“What about his wife?” Beck asked. “His wife is still living this life of luxury. Why is she not indicted on this? Why is the son not been indicted? Why was the lawyer that was working with him not been indicted?”

That’s not all. Since the center filed for bankruptcy in February 2024, they said Govoni sold $6 million worth of real estate — profiting $1.5 million, money that has yet to be located.

Beck asked how this went on for 15 years and why no one was monitoring Govoni’s businesses.

“There’s no amount of money that is going to bring my dad back,” she said. “There’s nothing, but my dad deserves justice, and I will fight until my last breath to get justice for my dad.”

8 On Your Side has learned that U.S. Attorney General and Temple Terrace native, Pam Bondi, has fired assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Gordon.

Gordon was one of many federal prosecutors who worked on cases involving the Jan. 6 rioters. Gordon was also the lead prosecutor on the Govoni case.

8 On Your Side obtained the termination letter, which is dated June 27, 2025. That is one day after Gordon argued in federal court for Govoni not to be released pending trial. The letter did not include a reason for termination.

Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Florida, and a spokesperson wrote, “The case against Leo Govoni and John Witeck will proceed as scheduled.”

The spokesperson would not comment on Gordon’s termination.

The federal indictment mentions, “others known and unknown to the grand jury conspired to defraud” which may be a sign the Department of Justice plans to charge other people in this case, but the question now is: will there be a delay now that the lead federal prosecutor has been terminated?