Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, the Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) announced that more than $10,000 has been returned to a victim of a cryptocurrency-based romance scam. In October 2023, an arrest warrant was issued against Sunday Adebola, a Nigerian national, charging him with grand theft, scheme to defraud, money laundering, fraudulent use of a money service business, and stolen valor for his role in a romance scam. Adebola faces up to 30 years in prison if he attempts to enter the United States. As part of the case, 10,348.982117 Tether assets were seized. Following the arrest warrant, an Alachua County judge ordered the forfeiture of seized assets and returned the money to the victim in the amount of $10,087.25.

“This result is the first of its kind in the state of Florida, and with the hard work of OFR investigators, the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution’s Cyber Fraud Unit, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, we were able to return approximately 94 percent of the victim’s money,” said OFR Commissioner Russell C. Weigel, III. “The Office of Financial Regulation will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to protect Floridians from financial scams.”

Adebola used an online dating website to find victims by purporting to be Jayden Wallace, a U.S. Army soldier stationed overseas. As Wallace, Adebola gained a Florida victim’s trust and affection. He convinced the victim to provide him with her personal identifying information, open bank accounts and provide him access, and send him money via Bitcoin so he could purchase a flight to see her and clear a tax debt.

The victim sent Adeola $13,490 in Bitcoin she purchased using U.S. dollars at a virtual currency kiosk. An OFR investigation revealed that Adebola received the Bitcoin at an account with an international virtual asset service provider and then converted the Bitcoin to Tether, a stablecoin with a value attached to the U.S. dollar.

The OFR investigated the case, and the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution’s Cyber Fraud Unit issued the arrest warrant. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and an international virtual asset service provider assisted with the seizure of the Tether assets.

Floridians who suspect questionable financial business practices are encouraged to file a complaint online at www.flofr.gov, or by calling (850) 487-9687.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis issued a proclamation declaring September as Florida Preparedness Month. The Florida Division of Emergency highlights the importance of Florida residents and visitors preparing for natural and man-made hazards.

“With one named storm already having made landfall this season, I want to emphasize to residents that being prepared doesn’t have to be complicated or costly,” said FDEM Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “September is the historical peak of hurricane season, so residents need to follow the core five preparedness steps of ensuring disaster plans are in place; fully stocking a disaster supply kit; knowing their evacuation zone and the hurricane impacts their home can withstand; keeping car gas tanks at least halfway full; and knowing to evacuate only tens of miles inland to a safe shelter if necessary.”

FDEM continues supporting ongoing recovery efforts in counties impacted by Hurricane Debby and has already obligated over $100 million in recovery funding to areas in need.

The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season runs until November 30, with September marking the historical peak of hurricane season. Every household and business is encouraged to take the necessary steps to finalize their disaster preparedness plans during this time.

Steps to Being Prepared for Floridians

• Make a Plan—Each household should have a disaster plan specific to the needs of everyone in the family, including consideration of children, pets and seniors. Everyone in the household should assist in developing the emergency plan and understand it. Visit FloridaDisaster.org/PlanPrepare to make a plan.
• Build a Disaster Supply Kit—Every household should have a disaster supply kit with enough food and water to last each individual for at least seven days. Beginning August 24 through September 6, families can purchase critical disaster preparedness items sales tax-free. Visit FloridaDisaster.org/Kit for a full disaster supply kit checklist and FloridaRevenue.com/DisasterPrep for qualifying items during the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.
• Know Your Zone, Know Your Home—Residents need to know if they live in an evacuation zone, a low-lying flood-prone area, a manufactured home, or an unsafe structure during hurricane season. It is important for residents to know their home and its ability to withstand strong winds and heavy rain. This information helps residents better understand orders from local officials during a storm and make informed decisions. Visit FloridaDisaster.org/Know for more information.
• Keep Gas Tanks Half Full and Electric Vehicles Half Charged—Residents should keep their vehicle’s gas tanks at least half full during hurricane season to ensure they have enough fuel to evacuate as soon as possible. For Floridians with electric vehicles, it is recommended that the battery be maintained between 50% – 80% capacity at all times, depending on the type of vehicle and what the vehicle’s manual recommends. Visit FloridaDisaster.org/HalfwayFull for more information.
• Evacuate Tens of Miles, Not Hundreds of Miles—If an evacuation order is called for an area, residents will only need to evacuate tens of miles, not hundreds, to reach a safer location. A safer location could be a shelter made to withstand high winds and heavy rain or a stable structure not in a flood zone. Ultimately, residents need to make informed decisions and know what options are available in their community. Visit FloridaDisaster.org/Counties for all 67 counties’ emergency management websites.

Visit FloridaDisaster.org for emergency information and to learn more about Florida hazards.

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Deerfield Beach, Fla. – All lanes of I-95 northbound and southbound between SW 10^th Street and Hillsboro Boulevard will be closed overnight for Florida Power & Light (FP&L) transmission line installation. The closure will be in effect from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., Monday night, Aug. 26. The first lane will close at 9 p.m., the second lane will close at 9:30 p.m., the third lane will close at 10 p.m., and all lanes will be closed by 11 p.m., reopening by 5 a.m. Aug. 27, Aug. 28 and Aug. 29, will be used as contingency nights if needed. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will be onsite to assist with traffic management for all detours.

I-95 southbound traffic will be detoured via the exit ramp to Hillsboro Boulevard westbound, Powerline Road southbound, and SW 10^th Street eastbound to the I-95 southbound entrance ramp. The I-95 southbound managed lanes ingress at Congress Avenue and Palmetto Park Road will also be closed. Motorists may reenter the managed lanes south of SW 10^th Street.

I-95 northbound traffic will be detoured via the exit ramp to SW 10^th Street eastbound, Dixie Highway northbound, and Hillsboro Boulevard westbound to the I-95 northbound entrance ramp. The I-95 northbound managed lanes ingress at Oakland Park Boulevard and Cypress Creek Road will also be closed and motorists will egress at Sunrise Boulevard to follow the detour. Motorists may reenter the managed lanes north of Hillsboro Boulevard.

Motorists are advised to plan their routes accordingly and to follow all posted signage and law enforcement direction. FDOT appreciates the cooperation and understanding of the traveling public during this crucial construction activity. Safety is the Department’s top priority and is embedded in all that we do.

For more information, please call the FDOT District Four Communications Office at (954) 777-4090.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, August 22, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT: (850) 413-6482

TALLAHASSEE —The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) will begin a hearing on Monday, August 26, to consider Tampa Electric Company’s (TECO) petition for a rate increase.

As part of the ratemaking process, the Commission conducted two virtual and one in-person service hearings in June to allow feedback from customers about TECO’s quality of service and rate increase request. TECO serves approximately 844,000 customers in Hillsborough and portions of Polk, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at the following time and location:

Monday, August 26, 2024

1:00 p.m.

Betty Easley Conference Center

Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (Room 148)

4075 Esplanade Way

Tallahassee, Florida

August 27–30 are reserved to continue the hearing. The starting time of the next day’s session will be announced at the conclusion of the prior day’s hearing.

A live broadcast of the hearing will be available on the PSC’s website (click “Watch Live and Archived PSC Events” on our homepage) and may be broadcast on the Florida Channel (check your local listing).

For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.

Follow the PSC on X and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to the Commission’s YouTube channel for Consumer Tips and PSAs.

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a public meeting regarding project plans on State Road (S.R.) A1A from south of Hayes Avenue/Lunar Avenue to north of Johnson Avenue/Cocoa Palms Drive and from Taylor Avenue to Tyler Avenue on Wednesday, August 28, at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of this project is to enhance pedestrian safety along S.R. A1A by constructing raised concrete medians as pedestrian refuge islands and installing pedestrian warning signs with flashing beacons.

The Department is offering multiple ways for the community to participate in the meeting. All participants, regardless of platform they choose, will participate in the same live meeting.

FDOT encourages community involvement and is offering this public meeting in a hybrid format to provide more ways to participate. All attendees, regardless of which platform they choose, will receive the same information.

In-Person Open House Option: Participants may attend in person by going to Cape Canaveral Community Center, 7920 Orange Avenue, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 anytime between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to view a looping presentation and project displays, speak with project team members, and submit comments or questions. If attending in person, please remember to follow all safety and sanitation guidelines. If you are feeling unwell, please consider attending the meeting virtually.

Virtual Option: Interested persons may join over the Internet from a computer, tablet or mobile device at 5:30 p.m. For this option, advance registration is required by visiting fdot.cc/SR_A1A_Safety_Improvements. Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting online. If using a mobile device, use the GoToWebinar app to be able to view the presentation and submit comments. If joining online, please allow adequate time to log in to view the presentation in its entirety.

Those who cannot attend the meeting may view all meeting materials, including the presentation, and provide comment through the project website at www.cflroads.com/project/992400-3. You may also contact FDOT Project Manager Richard Smith directly at (386) 943-5326 or [email protected] to receive project documents.

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to FDOT compliance with Title VI may do so by contacting Melissa McKinney, FDOT District Five Title VI Coordinator, at [email protected].

Persons who require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or persons who require translation services (free of charge) should contact Richard Smith at (386) 943-5326 or [email protected] at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact us by using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice).

Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT District Five Public Information Office at [email protected] or by phone at (386) 943-5593.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the preservation of a Florida family farm through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Joseph Miller Ranch, a 490-acre cow/calf operation in St. Lucie County, is being preserved through a rural land protection easement for $2,070,000.

“The preservation of Joseph Miller Ranch through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is yet another win for Florida agriculture and the state of Florida,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “By protecting this land from future development and keeping it in the hands of working farmers, we are conserving an essential natural resource and ensuring that future Floridians will benefit from the economic and environmental advantages of our state’s agricultural legacy.”

The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program purchases the development rights to the agricultural properties through voluntary rural land protection easements, which prevent the future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.

Joseph Miller Ranch

Joseph Miller Ranch is a 490-acre cow/calf operation located about 14 miles west of Port St. Lucie and 11 miles northeast of Okeechobee. The property includes uplands and wetlands, with a diverse range of Florida wildlife. About half of the property supports mature mixed wetland hardwoods and hydric hammock. Numerous depression marshes and small dome swamps are throughout the site. A portion of Cypress Creek runs through the southwestern corner of the property. The remaining acreage is a mosaic of hammocks and woodland pasture.

About the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

Established in 2001 with the passage of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, the program recognizes that working agricultural lands are essential to Florida’s economic future. Agricultural lands are being increasingly threatened by urban development. To counter this trend, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program partners with farmers and ranchers to ensure sustainable production practices while protecting natural resources.

During the 2024 Legislative Session, Commissioner Simpson helped to secure from the Florida Legislature $100 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program and another $100 million each fiscal year, appropriated in SB 1638, to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor, including the acquisition of conservation easements under the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

Commissioner Simpson recently recognized the families of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program at an event in Lake Placid, Florida, and celebrated the program’s 100,000^th acre milestone in agricultural land preservation.

Commissioner Simpson has been involved in Florida’s land conservation policy issues long before becoming Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. As Senate President, Commissioner Simpson championed the successful passage of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act, which directed the state of Florida to better protect and connect Florida’s natural areas and wildlife habitats and to preserve working agricultural lands from future development. As Senate President, Commissioner Simpson also secured $300 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

A story map of all completed Rural and Family Lands Protection Program projects can be viewed here: FDACS.gov/RFLPPMap.

For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.

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CONTACT

Joey Arellano

Deputy Communications Director

House Democratic Office

[email protected]

(850)717-4943

LETTER: House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell Calls for Solutions to Restore Crucial Vetoed Funds

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Earlier today, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) and House Speaker-designate Daniel Perez (R-Miami) calling for solutions, including a Special Session, to restore crucial funds that were vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

In the letter, Leader Driskell asks for the restoration of the nearly $57 million cut in funding used to pay for important support services for the entire Florida Legislature, including: lobbyist registration, IT for the Legislature, legislative auditors, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, House and Senate Joint Committees, and more. The letter also calls for funding restoration of many other needed programs, which all received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Legislature, including: statewide arts and culture funding; public health programs making feminine hygiene products available in public schools; needed civil legal aid projects; first-responder funding for firefighters and others; as well as many critical infrastructure and water projects required for the long-term viability of our communities.

“The Florida Legislature overwhelmingly supported all the vetoed projects on a bipartisan basis in both chambers because we recognize Floridians need this crucial funding now,” said Leader Driskell. “Our communities cannot wait for this assistance; many jobs are on the line now. Increasingly severe weather is producing expensive natural disasters. Let us do our jobs and do good for our constituents who sent us to Tallahassee to fight for them.”

The letter sent to the Speaker and Speaker-designate is attached.

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Traffic Advisory: Westbound I-4 Entrance Ramp from Sand Lake Road scheduled for Overnight Closures August 14, 15, and 18

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Motorists should be advised that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is implementing nightly closures of the entrance ramp to westbound Interstate 4 (I-4) from Sand Lake Road (State Road (S.R.) 482) on August 14,15, and 18. The closures will begin as early as 10 p.m. each night and are expected to reopen by 6 a.m.

These closures are necessary for crews to set beams on new bridge structures in the area as part of the improvements to the I-4 and Sand Lake Road interchange. The beams, weighing 72 to 75 tons, will be delivered to the ramp and then set in place via multiple cranes.

During the closure, motorists on Sand Lake Road who want to access westbound I-4 should turn onto northbound Turkey Lake Road, proceeding to Hollywood Way, where they will turn right. They will then turn right again onto Adventure Way and proceed to westbound I-4. See attached detour map.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) advises motorists to follow all posted signs. Construction schedules are subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Please continue to use caution while driving through active construction zones. Remember to always be alert while riding or driving.

For more information on the planned improvements on I-4 in Orange County, visit the project website at i4Beyond.com/SLR.

Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT Public Information Office at [email protected] or by phone at (386) 943-5593.

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Florida’s Insurance Commissioner Highlights Strengthening Property Insurance Market

~ Progressive commits to investing in Florida, joining State Farm and several national carriers, and nine new domestic property insurers following 2023 reforms ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, just four days after Hurricane Debby made landfall along the Big Bend, Florida’s Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky announced several positive developments related to the state’s strengthening property insurance market. The news follows announcements by State Farm and the most recent approval of the a ninth new property insurer, Trident Reciprocal Exchange, since the state’s 2023 landmark reforms.

In addition to new Florida-based market entrants, national carriers continue to expand their business in Florida’s market despite reducing company operations elsewhere. This week, following a meeting between Commissioner Yaworsky and Progressive Insurance executives, Progressive reinforced their commitment to investing in Florida’s market.

“Today’s announcements are a further indication of the continued strengthening of Florida’s property insurance market,” said Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky. “OIR will continue to work with Florida-based and national carriers, like Progressive, to recruit and retain business so that all Floridians may benefit from a strong market.”

Florida’s strengthening market is reinforced in recent rate filings, increased participation in the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) Depopulation Program, reduced reinsurance costs, and more carriers announcing their commitment to Florida’s insurance market.

Florida’s property insurance market is improving:

• Rate Filings: The 180-day average request for homeowners’ rates as of August 1, 2024 is 1.2%. Twelve companies have filed a rate decrease to take effect in 2024 and 24 companies have filed a zero percent increase, covering 1.8 million policies in Florida. The current 30-day average rate request for homeowners’ rates is 0.5%. One year ago, the 30-day average rate request was 7.6%.
• Market Snapshot: As of Q1 2024, there are approximately 7.43 million residential insurance policies in force in the Florida property insurance market. 83% of those policies are written by admitted property insurers, as opposed to Surplus Lines companies or Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.
• Reinsurance: OIR conducts the Annual Reinsurance Data Call (ARDC) to assess insurers’ financial viability in covering catastrophic losses with respect to their catastrophic reinsurance programs. Preliminary results from the 2024 ARDC indicate that the risk-adjusted change in reinsurance cost decreased on average -1.7% from 2023, which is the first decrease in years.
• Citizens Property Insurance Depopulation Program: OIR is seeing greater participation and interest in the Citizens Depopulation program. OIR has approved insurers to assume 768,692 policies from Citizens in 2024, an 858% increase since 2022. To date, 132,445 policies have been removed from Citizens and Citizens’ exposure has reduced $64,852,563,061. More information on how to participate in the takeout process and latest takeout approvals is available on OIR’s website here.

OIR is a national leader in identifying market trends because it collects more data about its insurance market than any other state or regulatory entity. Using data reported by insurers, OIR has created the Florida Property Insurance Market Stats, Data and Facts page to provide the latest information and facts on Florida’s property insurance market.