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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — “As we gather together with family and friends this
Thanksgiving holiday, we all reflect on our blessings. I am grateful to
the men and women who selflessly serve our country. To our military
members who are overseas and away from their families this Thanksgiving, I
thank you for your many sacrifices and dedication to protecting us.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla..—Attorney General Pam Bondi today issued the following
statement in recognition of Veterans Day:
“I would like to thank our country’s veterans for their dedication and
commitment to the United States of America. It is due to veterans’ selfless
service that we enjoy the freedoms that we do today.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that a Tampa
couple has pled guilty to a mortgage fraud racketeering conspiracy. David
Barile, 44, and Melissa D. Barile, 35, both of Tampa, were involved in an
$8.8 million mortgage fraud scheme prosecuted by the Office of Statewide
Prosecution.
“Mortgage fraud exacerbates the distressed housing market and hurts
responsible homeowners,” said Attorney General Bondi. “We are continuing to
prosecute the others involved in this criminal mortgage fraud ring, and we
thank the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Hillsborough County
Consumer Protection Agency for their commitment to investigating these
crimes.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that eight Tampa
Bay area individuals were arrested today on charges of Racketeering,
Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering and Conspiracy to Traffic in Opiates.
These individuals were associated with JW Wellness, LLC in Hillsborough
County, or Main Street Medical in Thonotosassa, Fla, which were both
targeted as possible illegal pill mills. The investigation and arrests were
a multi-agency effort consisting of the Tampa Police Department,
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement. These cases will be prosecuted in a joint effort by the Office
of Statewide Prosecution and the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s
Office.
“Today’s arrests should send a clear message that prescription drug
trafficking in Florida will not be tolerated,” said Attorney General Pam
Bondi. “I am grateful to the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough
County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office
and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for their dedication to
protecting Floridians from prescription drug abuse.”
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Gerald Bailey joined local, state and federal criminal justice officials today to announce the 2011 Semi-Annual Uniform Crime Report. The report reflects that crime in Florida declined 2 percent for the first half of the calendar year over the same period last year. Total violent crime (murder, forcible sex offenses, robbery and aggravated assault) is down by 3.2 percent for the first six months of the year, while total non-violent crime (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) declined 1.8 percent.
“The decrease in crime volume is yet another sign that Florida is a safe state, and we are open for business,” said Governor Rick Scott. “I commend Florida’s law enforcement agencies as well as our citizens for their commitment and dedication to keeping Floridians and visitors to our state safe.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Attorney General Pam Bondi has joined 18 other states in
asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a flawed decision by the Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals that overturns more than 30 years of best
management practices for stormwater runoff from silviculture, the growing
and harvesting of trees. The amicus brief was filed today by Arkansas
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel. The brief argues that the Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals’ decision invalidates EPA’s Silvicultural Rule and
incorrectly claims that timber harvesting constitutes “industrial activity”
when it is, in fact, agricultural.
“Congress has held that states are the appropriate entities to determine
best management practices for protecting our waters and wildlife from
stormwater runoff related to timber harvesting. The Ninth Circuit’s ruling
contradicts more than 30 years of practice and Congress’ and the EPA’s
directives,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Attorney General Pam Bondi today announced that an
Orlando man was convicted by an Orange County jury of conspiracy to traffic
in more than 400 grams of cocaine. Manolo Martinez, 41, was a cocaine
distributor sourced by a highly organized drug trafficking organization
operating out of Puerto Rico. He was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s
Office of Statewide Prosecution.
Martinez, of Orlando, was involved in conspiring to obtain and distribute
more than four kilos of heroin seized in Orlando on Aug. 6, 2009 that was
found in his vehicle being driven by an employee of his, Armando Crespo.
The drug trafficking organization was shipping kilograms of cocaine from
Puerto Rico to various addresses throughout Central Florida including
Orange, Osceola and Polk counties. It is estimated that between November
2008 and August 2009, over 60 kilograms of cocaine with a retail value of
$1.8 million were shipped into Central Florida by this organization.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Florida has
joined 24 other states and the U.S. Territory of Guam to file an amicus
brief asking the Environmental Protection Agency to delay implementation of
costly air emissions regulations in order to protect consumers and
Florida’s economy. The amicus brief was filed by Michigan Attorney General
Bill Schuette.
“We cannot allow Floridians, many of whom are already suffering financial
hardships, to bear the brunt of costly federal regulations,” stated
Attorney General Pam Bondi. “The brief asks the Environmental Protection
Agency slow down the implementation of their burdensome regulations in
order to correct technical issues and consider the consequences.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Attorney General Pam Bondi today announced that her
office filed a lawsuit against a used car dealership in Jacksonville for
alleged violations of Florida’s consumer protection law, including affixing
GPS tracking devices to cars without consumer knowledge or consent. The
defendants, Beach Boulevard Automotive, Inc., Beach Boulevard Auto Finance,
Inc., John King, Sr., and Barbara King, are accused of unfair and deceptive
business practices. The lawsuit seeks restitution for harmed consumers,
civil penalties of up to $15,000 per violation, attorneys fees and costs,
and injunctive relief.
“According to some complaints, this business tracked consumers down using
GPS devices and then repossessed vehicles even though consumers were
current on payments,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Nearly 80
consumers filed complaints with our office, and our priority in this case
is to return money to harmed consumers through restitution and to halt any
fraudulent business practices.”
MEMORANDUM
Date: Oct. 7, 2011
To: Interested media
From: Jenn Meale, Communications Director for the Attorney General’s
Office
Re: Posting of Request for Proposal for Professional Legal Services
Related to Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Today, the Attorney General’s Office posted a Request for Proposal for
legal services to explore the possibility of obtaining co-counsel in legal
matters relating to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The proposal is part
of an exploratory process that is non-binding and does not signify imminent
litigation.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Advocating on behalf of Floridians who have suffered
economic losses in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Attorney
General Pam Bondi today provided recommendations to the U.S. Department of
Justice on the independent audit of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility. The
audit, which is expected to begin before the end of this year, was agreed
to by Gulf Coast Claims Facility Administrator Kenneth Feinberg in response
to prompting by Attorney General Bondi, the Department of Justice, and the
other Gulf Coast states.
“With an objective and comprehensive audit, we can ensure that Floridians
receive the compensation they deserve for economic losses caused by the oil
spill,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “For far too long, the Gulf
Coast Claims Facility’s claims process has been cloaked in secrecy with
little information being shared with claimants. I have asked that the
independent audit begin quickly and examine every aspect of the claims
process.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Attorney General Pam Bondi today joined Senate Majority
Leader Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando) and Representative Eric Eisnaugle
(R-Orlando) to unveil a legislative initiative that will protect consumers
from timeshare resale fraud, the number one complaint that the Attorney
General’s Office has received for the past two years. The bill strengthens
existing laws by addressing unfair and deceptive marketing and advertising
practices by timeshare resale companies. From January 2011 to date, the
Attorney General’s Office has received nearly 6,863 complaints. In 2010,
the Attorney General’s Office received more than 12,000 complaints about
timeshare resale fraud—more than the next four highest complaint categories
combined.
“Florida is home to millions of timeshare periods that consumers purchase.
We cannot allow unscrupulous individuals to mislead and defraud our
consumers who are attempting to sell their timeshares, many of whom have
invested their life savings into their dream vacation homes,” stated
Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“I am proud to stand with the Attorney General to introduce legislation
that will further protect consumers who purchase timeshare properties in
Florida and later lose their money due to fraudulent resale practices,”
stated Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner.
“Timeshare properties are a vital part of Florida’s tourism and resort
industry. People who purchase these properties should be protected from the
misleading and deceptive practices being used by dishonest timeshare resale
companies,” said Representative Eric Eisnaugle.
To: Interested State Media
Date: October 4, 2011
Subject: REVISED: Tuesday, Oct. 4, Attorney General Pam Bondi to Hold Press
Event Unveiling Consumer Protection Legislative Initiative
Contact: Jenn Meale
Phone: 850.245.0150
jennifer.meale@myfloridalegal.com
Who: Attorney General Pam Bondi, Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner,
Representative Eric Eisnaugle, and others.
What: Press event announcing consumer protection legislative initiative.
Date and Time: *Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, 2:30 p.m. *Please note the press
event is on Tuesday, Oct. 4
Location: Room 333
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL
# # #
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Attorney General Pam Bondi today announced an $800,000
settlement with SubscriberBASE Holdings, Inc., an Internet-based
advertising company in Columbia, S.C. SubscriberBASE Holdings, Inc.
promotes Internet-marketed goods and services, including free gifts to
consumers who register for offers on the Internet. Allegedly, the “free”
offers advertised through a popular social media site, search engines, and
other Internet sites did not clearly and conspicuously disclose the terms
and conditions of the offers. Additionally, the email solicitations sent
by, or on behalf of, SubscriberBASE Holdings, Inc. allegedly violated the
Federal CAN-SPAM Act, which prohibits deceptive and misleading header
information in commercial e-mails.
“Florida law requires that all advertisements, including Internet ads,
provide sufficient disclosures about terms and fees and not be misleading,”
stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “We are committed to protecting
Floridians from unfair and deceptive trade practices, and we will not allow
the Internet to become a medium where deceptive marketing practices
flourish.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Attorney General Pam Bondi, on behalf of the state of
Florida, joined Nebraska and six other states in their challenge to the
Federal Environmental Protection Agency Cross State Air Pollution Rule.
Florida’s concerns with the rule include: the failure to allow an adequate
opportunity to remedy emission activity independently, the use of
questionable methodologies and modeling in analyzing the impact on other
states, and the disproportionate required reduction in emissions now being
placed on Florida.
“Once again the EPA has imposed costly regulations on Florida based on a
flawed process and without first working cooperatively with our state,”
stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “We will continue to protect Florida
consumers and businesses from unnecessary and costly federal regulation.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Attorney General Pam Bondi announced today that Florida,
together with Texas and New York local governments, has entered into a $70
million settlement with Watson Pharmaceuticals to resolve allegations of
Medicaid fraud. Allegedly, these companies knowingly set and reported false
and inflated prices for medications dispensed by pharmacies and other
providers who were then reimbursed by the Florida Medicaid program.
Florida’s portion of the settlement is $20.2 million.
“Our office is committed to doing everything we can to recover money
wrongly taken from our taxpayers through Medicaid fraud,” said Attorney
General Bondi.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—The Florida Supreme Court today upheld the use of
pentobarbital in lethal injections as constitutional and lifted the
temporary stay of execution for Manuel Valle.
“Today’s ruling reaffirms that the protocols and procedures used by the
state of Florida in lethal injections are constitutional,” stated Attorney
General Pam Bondi. “With the stay lifted, justice for this cold-blooded
killer who gunned down a police officer can now be served.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Attorney General Pam Bondi issued the following
statement in response to the Miami-Dade County 11th Judicial Circuit
Court’s ruling that dismissed controlled substance charges for 39
individuals, all violations of Florida Statute 893.13, on the basis that
convicting individuals without proving mens rea, or knowledge that a crime
is illegal, violates due process rights.
“We will promptly appeal this decision, which conflicts with binding state
court precedent upholding Florida’s drug law,” stated Attorney General Pam
Bondi. “This decision is flawed and it unduly hinders prosecutors’ efforts
to keep criminals off our streets.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Attorney General Pam Bondi today filed a lawsuit against
hurricane shutter company Rolladen, Inc. and its principal, Robert Hoffman,
for deceptive and unfair trade practices. Rolladen, a Hallandale-based
company, markets and sells hurricane shutters and impact windows to Florida
consumers and allegedly required substantial deposits up front but never
installed the shutters or windows.
“As Floridians safeguard their homes against hurricanes, they deserve the
assurance of knowing that they are doing business with fair and honest
companies,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “My office will continue to
investigate deceptive business practices and protect all of Florida’s
consumers.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –Attorney General Pam Bondi today issued the following
statement in memory of Hernando County Sheriff Deputy John Mecklenburg who
was killed in the line of duty.
“Deputy John Mecklenburg is a hero who gave his life in service to others.
His tragic death is yet another sad reminder of the sacrifices that the law
enforcement community throughout our state makes on our behalf every single
day.
