Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution today announced three Broward County residents have been charged in connection to a string of retail thefts. The defendants allegedly stole smartphones and tablets from retail cellphone outlets in Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and St. Lucie Counties.
“Members of this organized retail theft ring targeted mobile phone stores in multiple Florida counties but thanks to our joint investigation, justice came calling—and now all three suspects have been arrested and charged in connection to this case,” said Attorney General Bondi.
According to a multiagency investigation, the defendants entered various retail cellphone stores open for business and stole smartphones and tablets by tearing demo items from display cords and running out of the stores. In many cases, one defendant would allegedly distract a store salesperson while the others stole electronics. The stores targeted include AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. The investigation uncovered more than 31 incidents involving the three defendants, totaling more than $70,000 in stolen merchandise.
The following defendants are facing charge in connection to this case:
· Christopher Jordan, 27;
· Prosper Vilsaint, 29; and
· Willie Walker, 29.
All three defendants face charges including racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and numerous counts of grand theft. If convicted, each defendant could face more than 30 years in prison. Attorney General Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the case.
Jordan and Walker are currently in law enforcement custody in Maryland facing charges not related to this case. Vilsaint is in the custody of the Broward Sheriff’s Office, also on unrelated charges.
The agencies that assisted in the investigation include the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Boca Raton Police Department, the Coral Spring Police Department, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the Davie Police Department, the Delray Beach Police Department, the Doral Police Department, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, the Hialeah Police Department, the Hollywood Police Department, the Miami Police Department, the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Miami Gardens Police Department, the Miramar Police Department, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the Pembroke Pines Police Department, the Plantation Police Department and the Port St Lucie Police Department.
If you have additional information about this case, please contact Dennis Roadruck at [email protected].
ICYMI: WWSB: Gov. Scott is Fighting for Florida Jobs on Statewide Tour
“Gov. Scott is Fighting for Florida Jobs on Statewide Tour”
WWSB (ABC) – Tampa Bay, FL
May 4, 2017
To view the clip, click HERE.
CRC Announces Meeting of Rules Working Group
MEDIA ADVISORY
The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) announces a meeting of the Rules Working Group to convene on Wednesday, May 17 from 11:00 AM–4:00 PM at Hillsborough Community College (HCC). The Rules Working Group meeting is scheduled prior to the CRC’s public hearing at the same location from 5:00 PM–8:00 PM.
Members of the public wishing to specifically provide comment regarding the Rules of the Commission will be given an opportunity to speak at the direction of the Rules Working Group. Only comment related to the Rules of the Commission will be considered during the Rules Working Group Meeting. Those wishing to provide comment regarding proposed constitutional amendments are requested to attend the public hearing of the full commission scheduled from 5:00 PM–8:00 PM.
Meetings will be live-streamed by The Florida Channel on www.TheFloridaChannel.org. Media wishing to attend are requested to bring their press credentials.
CRC AGENDA – WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017
MEETING OF THE CRC RULES WORKING GROUP (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
LOCATION: Hillsborough Community College
Dale Mabry Campus
DSTU Auditorium, Room 111
4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd.
Tampa, Fla. 33614-7820
GOOGLE MAP LINK
TIME: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
LINK TO AGENDA
MEMBERS: Members of the CRC Rules Working Group are:
- Commissioner Timothy Cerio
- Commissioner Don Gaetz
- Commissioner Brecht Heuchan
- Commissioner Arthenia Joyner
- Commissioner Tom Lee
- Commissioner Roberto Martinez
- Commissioner Rich Newsome
- Commissioner Carolyn Timmann
CRC PUBLIC HEARING (5:00 PM – 8:00 PM)
LOCATION: Hillsborough Community College
Dale Mabry Campus
DSTU Auditorium, Room 111
4001 W. Tampa Bay Blvd.
Tampa, Fla. 33614-7820
GOOGLE MAP LINK
TIME: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Doors open at 4:00 PM)
*End time is tentative depending upon attendance and public interest in speaking before the CRC. All Floridians wishing to speak before the CRC will be given an opportunity to be heard.
Individuals requiring an accommodation to participate public hearings and public meetings (such as a sign language interpreter) are requested to notify the Constitution Revision Commission five days prior to the scheduled meeting date at [email protected] or 850.717.9550.
Legislation to Help Fight Deadly Opioid Epidemic Headed to Governor
Attorney General Pam Bondi today thanks Florida lawmakers for passing legislation that will bolster continued efforts to combat the national opioid epidemic in Florida. Today, the Senate voted in favor of HB 477. This legislation is a top priority for Attorney General Bondi, and now, it will go before Governor Rick Scott.
“I want to thank sponsors Representative Jim Boyd and Senator Greg Steube, and each member of the House and Senate that supported this important legislation. Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid that is being mixed with heroin and other drugs—often with deadly consequences,” said Attorney General Bondi. “This legislation has been my top priority this session because it gives us the tools we need to combat the trafficking of these deadly substances.”
“Since May of 2016, I’ve worked relentless alongside the Attorney General and state Law Enforcement to aggressively eradicate these purveyors of poison who have preyed upon the weak for too long. As a member of the Florida House and constituent of the epicenter of the opioid crisis, I’ve seen community devastation first hand. It has been an honor to fight for the people of our state, and this bill sends a clear message that opioid abuse will no longer be tolerated,” said Representative Boyd.
“This legislation will serve as a much-needed step forward in tackling the opioid epidemic. I applaud my colleagues in the legislature for recognizing the magnitude of this issue that has devastated far too many families across our state,” said Senator Steube.
This legislation adds fentanyl and its derivatives to Florida’s drug trafficking statute and gives law enforcement and state prosecutors the tools they need to investigate and prosecute drug traffickers selling the deadly substances. Fentanyl is a synthetic substance 50 times more potent than morphine. It is being mixed with other drugs, sold as heroin or even a pill—often resulting in the death of unsuspecting users.
The legislation also adds U-47700 to the list of Schedule 1 controlled substances. In September last year, Attorney General Bondi signed an emergency rule outlawing the synthetic drug after it was identified in multiple deaths throughout the state. This emergency action temporarily outlawed the dangerous drug and the legislation passed today will ban the deadly substance permanently.
Since taking office, Attorney General Bondi has issued executive orders and worked with state lawmakers to ban more than a hundred chemical compounds used to produce deadly synthetic drugs. Last session, Attorney General Bondi also helped pass legislation to better control synthetic drugs through a drug classification system.
Polk City man turns $25 into $1 million playing $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game
David Stubbs poses with his oversized check after claiming a $1 million
prize in the $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game.
The Florida Lottery announces that David Stubbs, of Polk City, claimed a $1 million prize in the $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $748,000.00.
Stubbs purchased his winning ticket from the Primetime Food Store, located at 501 Commonwealth Avenue Southwest in Polk City. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The new $25 game, $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH, launched in February and features more than $549 million in total cash prizes, including two top prizes of $10 million and 46 prizes of $1 million! Overall odds of winning are one-in-2.89.
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 65 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $734 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2015-16.
Attorney General Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to Receive National Award
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will receive the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s top Award for Excellence in Fighting Fraud, Waste and Abuse. The HHS OIG nominated Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU for the top award because of the Unit’s success fighting Medicaid fraud and recovering millions of dollars in lost funds. HHS selected Florida MFCU for the top honor from 50 units nationwide. A report released earlier this year, highlighted more than $165 million in total recoveries obtained by the Florida MFCU during the 2016 Fiscal Year, the second highest in the nation.
“This national award highlights the tireless efforts of my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigators to stop fraud and recover funds for taxpayers. Since taking office, we have recovered more than $689 million in stolen Medicaid funds through settlements and judgments,” said Attorney General Bondi. “This award sends a strong message, that anyone stealing Medicaid funds in Florida will be arrested and prosecuted.”
Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU is also being recognized for great collaboration with HHS and other federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Last year, working with HHS, FBI, U.S. Department of Justice and additional federal and state law enforcement agencies, MFCU helped execute the largest Medicare and Medicaid fraud takedown in United States history. As part of this coordinated takedown, MFCU charged six individuals involved in schemes causing more than $17 million in fraudulent billings. In total the joint investigation identified more than $200 million in fraud resulting in more than 100 arrests in Florida.
MFCU continues to work with federal partners to recover stolen Medicaid funds and prevent millions of dollars in potential future fraud. In 2011, HHS certified the Florida MFCU as the first unit in the country with the authority to conduct data mining to find and stop Medicaid fraud. Now, the Florida MFCU is one of only nine units in the country with OIG approval to data mine billing practices of Medicaid providers, such as hospitals, doctors and pharmacies.
The HHS will present the Attorney General’s MFCU with the award on June 12 at the 2017 Honor Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C.
Each year HHS OIG publishes a report highlighting statistical data of all Medicaid Fraud Control Units nationwide for the preceding federal fiscal year. To view the latest report, click here.
The Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida’s taxpayers. From Jan. 2011 to the present, Attorney General Bondi’s MFCU has obtained more than $689 million in settlements and judgments. Additionally, the MFCU investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program.
ACLU Statement on Book Banning Legislation
The Florida Legislature today passed CS/CS/HB 989, a bill that makes it easier to object to books and other instructional materials in public schools.
Responding to the bill, ACLU of Florida Legislative Counsel Kara Gross stated:
“The ACLU of Florida is concerned that this bill makes it easier to censor and ban books and other instructional materials in public schools. This bill not only broadens the scope of those who can object to school instructional materials to include county residents who do not even have school-age children, but it also includes additional grounds for raising such objections.
“According to the bill, any county resident could raise an objection and prompt a review and hearing process. Additionally, it would allow an individual to object based on their own personal beliefs of what is and is not age appropriate, and may open the door to objections and hearings based on science textbooks that teach evolution as a fact, or that include issues of global warming, among other things.
“Will the school districts’ resources and taxpayer money be wasted reviewing materials that teach evolution in science classes? Will history textbooks that include accounts of the Holocaust or the moon landing be yanked from classrooms because a resident believes those are fake events and has compiled extensive Internet research in support of his objection?
“Florida’s educational resources are stretched thin enough. Taxpayer dollars should be spent teaching students with instructional materials that meet state standards, not wasted on countless public reviews and hearings on textbooks and lessons that one person doesn’t like or agree with.”
Gov. Scott Stops in Panama City on “Fighting for Florida’s Future” Tour
Governor Rick Scott today met with local leaders and job creators in Panama City on the last stop of his “Fighting for Florida’s Future” tour. This week, Governor Scott traveled the state to encourage Floridians to contact members of the Florida Legislature and urge them to invest in key priorities- funding for tourism and economic development and the Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechobee.
Attorney General Bondi’s Statement on Passage of Sober Homes Legislation
Attorney General Pam Bondi today issued the following statement on the unanimous passage of legislation that will help protect recovering addicts in Florida and expand the authority of the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution to prosecute patient brokering crimes:
“I want to thank Representative Bill Hager and Senator Jeff Clemens for sponsoring this vital legislation and each member of the Florida Legislature who voted in favor of the bill,” said Attorney General Bondi. “The legislation will help protect recovering addicts from those trying to exploit and profit from their addiction.”
The legislation also creates a certification program for sober homes and prohibits deceptive, false or misleading marketing practices.
Having passed favorably in both the House and Senate, this legislation will now go before Governor Rick Scott.
Florida Supreme Court: New Posting, 5/5/2017, 9:05 a.m. ET
New material has been posted to the Supreme Court website in:
- JQC re: Judge Kimberly M. Shepard (letter scheduling public reprimand for Aug. 29, 2017)
Follow the links at: http://www.floridasupremecourt.org.
