A former Ocoee city commissioner is accused of selling phony bulletproof vests to visitors of gun shows all over Florida.



Scott Anderson is facing fraud charges for the scheme Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement agents say put profits over people.

FDLE investigators say hundreds or possibly thousands of the bullet proof vests were sold. Now they're concerned someone could get killed because they don't stop bullets.

The bogus body armor was taken from former Ocoee Commissioner Scott Anderson's business in Ocoee.

Investigators said for the past two years the 57-year-old and his business partners, Scott Williams, 51, and Arami Rodriguez, 36, would sell these fake vests on eBay and at gun shows throughout the southeast.

Anderson served as an Ocoee commissioner for 12 years before leaving office in 2009.

"It is very disturbing, an individual that was in some version of public service agency would do such a thing," said FDLE Special Agent Daniel Warren.



Investigators said they were tipped off back in August. A concerned customer called the manufacturer on the label of a vest, Point Blank Enterprises, because they believed the armor was counterfeit.

Point Blank Enterprises became suspicious that someone was using their label and called FDLE.

The agency said it also tested the fake bulletproof vests and discovered they did not protect against bullets.

"If an individual is wearing this, and God forbid they were shot at, it will not do the job that it is suppose to do," Warren said.



Law enforcement officials said they followed the suspects for two months, then raided Alpha Sports Incorporated in Ocoee in early September.

The vests go for about $600 to $900 each.

Warren said there are all types of people buying them. "Security guards, bondsmen, maybe some jewelers that are looking to protect themselves if they are transporting large dollars."

Anderson and Williams were released from Orange County Jail on over $5,200 bond.

Rodriguez is in the custody of the US marshals for unrelated federal gun charges. Investigators said the men could face up to 10 years behind bars.