Two Collier County Men Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Wire Fraud

Fort Myers, Florida - John P. Skubinski (55, Naples) and Melvin A. Slawik, Jr. (68, Naples) have each been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to 15 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Both pleaded guilty on April 30, 2026. As part of their sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $536,200, the proceeds of the wire fraud. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to court documents, in July 2020, Skubinski and Slawik participated in a scheme to obtain money from a victim by using false representations and promises. In 2020, Skubinski and Slawik owned and operated a business called Blue Hill Buffalo Consulting, LLC, located in Collier County.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the victim was searching for a vender to supply nitrile gloves to the Cleveland Clinic. Skubinski and Slawik falsely represented that Blue Hill Buffalo had the nitrile gloves in a warehouse and could fulfill the order as soon as the money was paid. Skubinski and Slawik knew that they did not have the gloves to ship, but they drafted a contract to induce the victim to pay. On July 29, 2020, the signed contract falsely represented that Blue Hill Buffalo would deliver 38,300 boxes (200 per box) of nitrile exam gloves to the Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio, after the victim paid $536,200. On July 30, 2020, the victim wired the funds to the bank account of Blue Hill Buffalo.

Skubinski and Slawik never provided the medical gloves that the victim paid for. Instead, they offered false excuses concerning delays when they knew that they did not have the gloves as promised.

Bank records revealed that Skubinski and Slawik used the money that they received from the victim to fund their own lifestyle and to pay their expenses.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Julie A. Simonsen.