Florida News Straight From the Source
Tomorrow, May 24, Governor Rick Scott will highlight job growth at aerospace manufacturer Honeycomb Company of America in Sarasota.
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: 3:15 PM
WHERE: Honeycomb Company of America
1950 Limbus Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34243
Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Federal Trade Commission have jointly obtained a court order halting a massive phony debt relief operation that bilked millions of dollars from financially strapped consumers, including the elderly and disabled. According to the complaint filed by Attorney General Bondi’s Office and the FTC, Jeremy Lee Marcus, Craig Davis Smith and Yisbet Segrea, through 11 companies, convinced consumers to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars a month by falsely promising to pay, settle or obtain dismissals of consumers’ debts and improve consumers’ credit. After paying for the defendants’ services, consumers allegedly found debts unpaid, accounts in default and credit scores severely damaged. The scam even forced some victims into bankruptcy and some consumers were sued by their creditors.
“Despite alleged promises, the victims of this scam ended up with little or nothing to show for their payments and were made worse off financially,” said Attorney General Bondi. “I will continue to work with our federal partners to stop scammers targeting and exploiting consumers in search of financial help.”
The joint complaint alleges that the defendants made promises of guaranteed debt consolidation loans with attractive interest rates and significantly lower monthly payments. To appear more credible and legitimate, the defendants allegedly falsely claimed non-profit status. After consumers agreed to the purported loan, the defendants began debiting consumers bank accounts. According to the complaint, the defendants also called consumers already enrolled with other debt relief providers and falsely claimed to be taking control of the servicing of those accounts and providing the same or similar services.
Marcus, Smith, Segrea and their companies are all alleged in the complaint to have violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule.
The court’s preliminary injunction order prohibits the defendants from misrepresenting or assisting others in misrepresenting that the defendants will:
The defendants are also prohibited from violating, or assisting others in violating, any provision of the Telemarketing Sales Rule.
To view the preliminary injunction order, click here.
To view the complaint filed, click here.
Attorney General Bondi would like to express her thanks to the Federal Trade Commission for their continuing partnership in this case, as well as in other consumer protection efforts. Attorney General Bondi would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida.
The corporate defendants are Financial Freedom National, Inc., f/k/a Institute for Financial Freedom, Inc. and Marine Career Institute Sea Frontiers, Inc., also d/b/a 321 Loans, Instahelp America, Inc., Helping America Group, United Financial Support, Breeze Financial Solutions, 321Financial Education, Credit Health Plan, Credit Specialists of America, American Advocacy Alliance and Associated Administrative Services; 321Loans, Inc., f/k/a 321 Loans, Inc., also d/b/a 321Financial, Inc.; Instahelp America, Inc, f/k/a Helping America Team, Inc., also d/b/a Helping America Group; Helping America Group, LLC, f/k/a Helping America Group, Inc.; Breeze Financial Solutions, Inc., also d/b/a Credit Health Plan and Credit Maximizing Program; US Legal Club, LLC; Active Debt Solutions, LLC, f/k/a Active Debt Solutions, Inc., also d/b/a Guardian Legal Center; Guardian LG, LLC, also d/b/a Guardian Legal Group; American Credit Security, LLC, f/k/a American Credit Shield, LLC; Paralegal Support Group LLC, f/k/a Paralegal Staff Support LLC; and Associated Administrative Services, LLC, also d/b/a Jobfax.
The relief defendants who allegedly profited from the scheme are JLMJP Pompano, LLC, 1609 Belmont Place LLC, 16 S H Street Lake Worth, LLC, 17866 Lake Azure Way Boca, LLC, 114 Southwest 2nd Street DBF, LLC, 110 Glouchester St., LLC, 72 SE 6th Ave., LLC, Fast Pace 69 LLC, Strategic Acquisitions Two, LLC, Halfpay International, LLC, Halfpay NV LLC, and Nantucket Cove of Illinois, LLC.
During a meeting of the Florida Cabinet, Governor Rick Scott today awarded Andrew Lumish with the Volunteer Florida Champion of Service Award, Florida’s official statewide volunteer recognition.
Governor Scott said, “I am proud to recognize Andrew with the Champion of Service Award for his dedication and commitment to honoring our nation’s heroes. I applaud his selfless and continued efforts to pay tribute to the lives and memories of our veterans.”
Volunteer Florida Chief Executive Officer Chester W. Spellman said, “Volunteer Florida is proud to recognize Andrew for the countless hours he has spent restoring gravestones and honoring our veterans. His dedication and persistence ensures that our service men and women are proudly remembered and honored.”
About the Champion of Service
A Tampa Bay resident and small business owner, Andrew Lumish spends almost every Sunday scrubbing and cleaning veterans’ tombstones. Andrew started cleaning tombstones in 2015 and has completely restored over 500 graves at three cemetery sites in Hillsborough and Pasco County. Andrew has restored almost all veteran monuments at Lutz Cemetery in Hillsborough County. Each tombstone is properly cleaned by the same standards practiced at Arlington National Cemetery, then accompanied with a full story about the deceased veteran on social media. His 21 year-old son, Tyler, now helps with restorations as well as posting veterans’ stories to social media.
The president’s budget proposal released today would eliminate all Amtrak service in Florida.
The proposal cuts funding for Amtrak’s long-distance routes, which includes all three routes in Florida. It would also stymie ongoing efforts to restore service in Florida’s Panhandle and along the Gulf Coast.
“This just doesn’t make sense,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL). “Eliminating Amtrak service in Florida not only affects the nearly one million Floridians who ride the train each year, it would have a real impact on our tourism-driven economy by making it harder for folks to come visit our state.”
More than 950,000 Floridians rode Amtrak during the last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, 2016.
The president’s budget would eliminate all three routes in Florida, including:
During a meeting of the Florida Cabinet, Governor Rick Scott today recognized retired Sergeant Major Ray A. Quinn with the Governor’s Medal of Merit. Sergeant Major Quinn served in the U.S. Army and Florida National Guard for 30 years.
Governor Rick Scott said, “I’d like to thank Sergeant Major Quinn for his dedication to the safety of families in Florida and the nation. I am incredibly humbled by his lifelong service, first as a member of the Army National Guard and then as a community leader in local government. I’m honored to present him with the Medal of Merit today for his service and positive impact on the lives of Florida veterans.”
Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Sutphin, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, said, “Sergeant Major Quinn has dedicated his life to serving his community, state, and nation during his time in the U.S. Army and Florida Army National Guard. He continues today to serve his community and veterans across the state with honor and integrity. Sergeant Major Quinn represents what it means to be a member of the Florida National Guard and a leader in our community.”
About Sergeant Major Ray A. Quinn
Sergeant Major Ray A. Quinn enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1965 and transitioned to the Florida Army National Guard in 1973. He was an infantry soldier, First Sergeant, Operations Sergeant and Personnel Noncommissioned Officer. After he retired, he went on to serve on the staff of the Adjutant General of Florida as the Director of Executive Services. In 2010, Sergeant Major Quinn was appointed by the Governor of Florida to serve as an interim County Commissioner for District 3 in St. Johns County. He served in that position from January 2010 until January 2011. He currently serves as Chairman of the Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Council, Vice Chair of the St. Johns County Veterans Council and is Vice President for Veteran Affairs, First Militia Chapter Association of the U.S. Army.
Flagler College received two awards from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation at its 39th annual conference in St. Petersburg on May 19.
The former Hotel Ponce de Leon, a National Historic Landmark that serves as the centerpiece of the college, was awarded an Outstanding Achievement honor for Restoration and Rehabilitation.
In preparation for St. Augustine’s 450th anniversary and the Spanish royal visit in 2015, the college, with the help of state grants, completed more than $4 million in repairs to the Ponce. This included hand cleaning the coquina concrete walls and brick details, recasting ornamental terra cotta and repairing windows and doors. The elaborately-adorned, curved Dining Hall wings resplendent with their Tiffany stained glass windows set in a carved wood framework was painstakingly repaired and rebuilt.
Since 1971, Flagler College has invested more than $40 million on preservation or adaptation of its 20 historic properties, most of which has been provided through private gifts.
In addition to the Outstanding Achievement award, Dr. Leslee Keys, Flagler College’s director of Historic Preservation and Special Initiatives, was recognized in the Preservation Education/Media category for her 2015 book “Hotel Ponce de Leon: The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Flagler’s Gilded Age Palace.”
Her book details the historic building’s transformation in 1968 from opulent Gilded Age hotel to the centerpiece of the new, private, liberal arts Flagler College. Last year she received the inaugural William L. Proctor Award for the best book published on St. Augustine from the Historic St. Augustine Research Institute, and was recognized by the University of Florida with the first Distinguished Alumni Award in Historic Preservation.
“I am honored that the preservation story of the Hotel Ponce de Leon and Flagler College have been recognized and am fortunate to have been able to present that unique and rich history,” Keys said.
She has served on numerous committees, including the Hotel Ponce de Leon 125th Anniversary committee, the Flagler College 50th Anniversary Steering Committee and is a past president of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Governor and Cabinet today approved the preservation of 5,211 acres of environmentally sensitive ranch lands in Okeechobee and Highlands counties through cost-effective conservation easements, which prevent future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy. The purchases are a part of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, where the state partners with Florida’s farmers and ranchers to preserve active agricultural operations and their immense economic and environmental benefits.
“With more than 1,000 people moving to Florida every day, we must continue to prioritize the preservation of our world-renowned natural spaces,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, we’re partnering with farmers and ranchers to preserve these invaluable pieces of our rural economy and environment for future generations in a cost-effective way.”
One easement will preserve 4,177 acres of the Triple S Ranch in Okeechobee County, where more than 25 percent of the easement is considered unaltered wetlands consisting largely of interconnected cypress domes. The second easement will preserve 1,034 acres of the S.Y. Hartt ranch in Highlands County. The easement is one mile south of the Avon Park Air Force Range and borders the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area and the Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge, as well as the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program’s Rafter T Ranch conservation easement.
Today’s partnerships increase the total land preserved by the program to 36,706 acres over 37 conservation easements. Since 2011, the current Governor and Cabinet have approved the acquisition of 30 projects totaling 33,121 acres, a more than 900 percent increase in acres preserved by the program. Additional details on today’s purchases can be found here.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services created the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program in 2001 to protect working agricultural lands threatened by other uses, such as development.
The goals of the program include:
Florida agriculture has an overall economic impact estimated at more than $120 billion annually, making it the state’s second largest industry. The agriculture industry supports more than 2 million jobs in Florida.
More information on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is available here.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
During a meeting of the Florida Cabinet today, Governor Rick Scott recognized Gulf Coast Angler Charters with the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award. Gulf Coast Angler Charters is a charter fishing business located in Cape Coral. The small business is owned and operated by Captain Johnny O’Hearon and his wife Julie O’Hearon and was founded in March of 2016.
Governor Scott said, “I’m proud to recognize Gulf Coast Angler Charters with the Business Ambassador Award today. It’s great to see Johnny grow his small business and allow residents and visitors to enjoy our state’s beautiful waterways. Florida is proud to be the Fishing Capital of the World, and I wish Johnny continued success in his charter business.”
Johnny O’Hearon, Owner of Gulf Coast Angler Charters, said, “It’s an honor to be recognized by Governor Scott with the Business Ambassador Award. I am proud to share my enjoyment of the Southwest Florida waters with Florida tourists. I am incredibly grateful for our success, and I look forward to continuing ensuring visitors enjoy their time here in Florida.”
For more information about Gulf Coast Angler Charters, visit www.gulfcoastangler.net.
New material has been posted to the Supreme Court website in:
During a meeting of the Florida Cabinet today, Governor Rick Scott recognized Erin Winick, 23, with the Young Entrepreneur Award. Erin is the founder and CEO of Sci Chic, a company that designs and produces 3D printed jewelry and accessories inspired by science and engineering. Sci Chic was founded in October of 2015 and is based in Gainesville.
Governor Scott said, “I’m proud to present Erin with the Young Entrepreneur Award today. It’s great to see Florida entrepreneurs follow their dreams of starting a business while inspiring others to get involved with STEM. It takes dedication and hard work to start a business and I look forward to seeing Sci Chic’s success in Florida.”
Erin Winick, founder and CEO of Sci Chic, said, “It’s an honor to be recognized with the Governor’s Young Entrepreneur Award. Sci Chic is focused on using science and engineering to produce fashionable jewelry. We work hard to develop STEM inspired fashion and inspire young girls to get involved with science and engineering. I’m grateful for the success we have seen, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
To learn more about Sci Chic, visit www.scichic.com. To learn more about the Governor’s Young Entrepreneur Award, visit HireFloridaGrads.com.
