DeSantis, Cabinet honor FHP trooper who put self in harmโs way to protect runners in 10K
Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Toni Schuck was honored Tuesday morning by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet for her quick efforts in stopping a motorist who drove past road closure signs during the Skyway 10K Bridge Run earlier this month.
Florida drops appeal over federal immigration policies
As Gov. Ron DeSantis launched another broadside against the federal governmentโs immigration policies, the state on Friday said it is dropping a legal challenge against the Biden administration over immigration directives issued early this year.
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Florida AG says caregiverโs $12K fraud denied elderly victim proper burial
A woman arrested in St. Johns County is accused of stealing more than $12,000 from an elderly victim and using the money for personal reasons, including paying court costs in a different case, Attorney General Ashley Moody said.
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Embattled leader of Florida domestic violence coalition to repay $2 million after scandal
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Office of Attorney General have settled pending civil actions involving the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc. (FCADV), its officers and directors, and the FCADV foundation for more than $5 million, the state announced Thursday.
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Florida cruise ships could sail again by the summer, DeSantis says
A day after a federal judge heard arguments in Floridaโs request for a preliminary injunction against federal restrictions that have idled the cruise-ship industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed optimism Thursday that he would be successful in court and cruise ships will sail again by the summer.
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Florida to feds: Allow cruise ships to operate or weโll sue
Millions typically cruise from Florida each year and the industry generates billions for the state's economy. The CDC shut down the cruise industry a year ago when several coronavirus outbreaks were tied to ships worldwide. Cruising has resumed with restrictions and protocols in much of the world with the industry leaders saying there have been no new outbreaks tied to their ships. AdCindy Prins, a University of Florida epidemiologist, defended the ban, saying it is still too early for cruise ships to operate. She said cruise lines would need to limit passengers and crew to those who can prove they are fully vaccinated to avoid spreading the virus.
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Stimulus payments are coming, so scammers could be coming for your money
โWith many Americans set to receive direct payments from the federal government, we expect scammers will devise schemes to exploit the massive spending to trick recipients into parting with personal or financial information,โ Moody said. To view Scams at a Glance: Stimulus Payments in English, click here . To view Scams at a Glance: Stimulus Payments in Spanish, click here . To view Scams at a Glance: Coronavirus Scams in English, click here . To access Moodyโs Scams at a Glance webpage, click here .
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Insurance, K9s and weed among Cabinet legislative priorities
The Associated Press interviewed each of the Cabinet members to discuss their 2021 legislative priorities:CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER JIMMY PATRONISOne of Patronis's top priorities reflects an issue supported by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican legislative leaders: Passing a bill to shield businesses from lawsuits related to COVID-19. He said he was inspired by a California law that went into affect last year in that state. A wide ranging food insecurity bill would create a tax credit of up to $5,000 for farmers who donate food to charities. โIt makes sure that we can go after those folks like guardians and other fiduciaries that are exceeding their scope and taking advantage and exploiting seniors,โ Moody said.
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Rewards for tips upped as murders increase in Florida
With murders increasing in parts of Florida, rewards for tips resulting in homicide arrests can now reach $9,500, up from $5,000, Attorney General Ashley Moody announced Wednesday. โFlorida has experienced historic crime rate lows. But unfortunately, we have seen in certain parts of our state significant increases in murders,โ Moody said during a news conference at the Orlando Police Department. The 27 Crime Stopper organizations in the state have been offering rewards between $1,000 and $5,000 for anonymous tips that provide information leading to arrests. AdAccording to Moodyโs office, murders in Florida went up 16% in the first six months of 2020, with some of the highest rates found in Broward, Duval and Orange counties.
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Florida attorney general warns of human trafficking ahead of Tampa Super Bowl
Raymond James Stadium, the site of NFL football Super Bowl LV, is shown Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)As Tampa gears up for one of the most unusual Super Bowls in history, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody warns human trafficking is as big of a concern as ever. Pandemic or not, Moody said, weekends with big events like the Super Bowl generate a lot of that money for those kinds of businesses. According to Moodyโs office, during the 2020 Super Bowl in Miami, there were 47 arrests for human trafficking-related charges. AdMoodyโs office teamed up with Uber, Airbnb and the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association to get their workers to recognize the signs of human trafficking.
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Donโt pay to reserve a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, state warns
According to recent news reports , scammers used the popular event website Eventbrite to pose as county health departments and take or attempt to take payments in exchange for COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a Consumer Alert warning Floridians about the COVID-19 vaccine scam. โConsumer Protection investigators and criminal prosecutors in my office are aggressively pursuing reports of scammers taking money in exchange for phony COVID-19 vaccine reservations,โ Moody said. โIf you have been a victim of this scam, please contact my office so we can end this fraud and help protect those seeking vaccinations.โStates are overseeing the free COVID-19 vaccine distribution rather than the federal government. To help manage appointment scheduling, several counties in Florida have turned to ticketing services like Eventbrite; however, NO county is charging for vaccine reservations!
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Watch out for fraud as stimulus payments deposited, mailed, Florida AG warns
Floridians arenโt the only ones excited about the stimulus payments from the federal government that have already started being deposited in bank accounts across the state. Floridians are already receiving payments both through direct deposit and mailed checks. Moody wants to make sure you can spot and avoid scams related to the federal payments. To track stimulus payments, use the IRS Get My Payment tool by clicking here . Please remember that the IRS will NOT call or email Floridians about stimulus payments.
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Florida AG backs Texas challenge to election results in 4 states
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on Wednesday joined 16 other states in backing a last-chance effort by Texas to get the U.S. Supreme Court to block election results in four swing states where the vote went in favor of President-elect Joe Biden. โThe integrity and resolution of the 2020 election is of paramount importance,โ Moody wrote in a statement as Florida joined a friend-of-the-court brief urging the Supreme Court to allow Texas to move forward with the case. The other states are Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court declined, without comment, to hear a challenge to Pennsylvaniaโs election results. Also, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis backed Trumpโs efforts in an interview Wednesday with The News Service of Florida.
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Consumer Alert: Avoid COVID-19 vaccine and distribution scams
Scammers may try to exploit the sense of urgency surrounding the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to swindle those trying to protect their health. I am asking all Floridians to be on the lookout for vaccine-related scams and report fraud to our office.โMoody released the following tips to help Floridians avoid COVID-19 vaccine-related scams:Know that no COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by the FDA as of the time of this Consumer Alert; therefore, any attempt to sell a vaccine right now is not legitimate. Never send money or financial information to anyone offering a COVID-19 vaccine or claiming the ability to expedite the process. The FDA will host a meeting regarding vaccines and related biological products on Thursday to discuss Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. To view the latest alerts and to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 related scams, visit the Attorney Generalโs Consumer Alert webpage by clicking here .
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Florida AG says $2M recovered for consumers
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Attorney General Ashley Moody said Wednesday the state has recovered about $2 million for consumers after such things as price gouging and scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moodyโs office said in a news release that it has received about 5,300 contacts from consumers about prices of โessential commodities,โ such as face masks and sanitizing supplies, that are covered by a state price-gouging law. It said it has contacted merchants and online retailers about allegations of price gouging and other wrongdoing. โOur team is still assisting consumers with extreme price increases for commodities and services related to COVID-19,โ Moody said in a prepared statement. โWe will continue to work diligently to stop those exploiting this health crisis to target Floridians.โ
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Florida Supreme Court refuses to reinstate death sentence for Duval County killer
Moodyโs office contended that the January Supreme Court decision backing away from the 2016 ruling should lead to reinstating the original death sentences instead of holding new sentencing hearings. But the Supreme Court on Wednesday said orders granting resentencing could not be undone. The Florida Supreme Court in October 2016, in the Hurst v. State decision, interpreted and applied the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The state court required unanimous jury recommendations before death sentences could be imposed and dealt with a critical issue of jurors finding what are known as โaggravating factorsโ that can justify death sentences. The state Supreme Court subsequently said its decision in Hurst v. State should be applied retroactively to cases going back to 2002.
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Consumer Alert: Beware of COVID-19 texting scam
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning consumers of yet another scam -- this time a COVID-19 texting scam. The federal government will NEVER require personal banking information in a text message to get you a stimulus payment, Moody warned. โAs long as COVID-19 remains a threat, scammers will attempt every trick in the book to exploit taxpayers and coerce them into disclosing personal information," Moody said in a news release. "I encourage all Floridians to familiarize themselves with emerging COVID-19 scams, available on our COVID-19 resource webpage at MyFloridaLegal.com/COVID19.โWhat you need to knowThe scam text message states the recipient received a $1,200 direct deposit from COVID-19 TREAS FUND and requires further action for the payment to be deposited into the account. If you do not have a filing requirement but are eligible for EIP, use the non-filers tool on the IRS website before Nov. 21 to claim the payment.
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Florida election results certified
(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ As legal battles and vote counts continue in other states, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Tuesday quickly certified the results of Floridaโs Nov. 3 general election. DeSantis and the two Cabinet members, acting as the state Elections Canvassing Commission, did not comment before agreeing in a conference call to certify the results. More than 11.14 million Floridians cast ballots in the election.
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Florida attorney general signs on to Pennsylvania ballot brief
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody signed on Monday to a brief aimed at convincing the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that allowed Pennsylvania elections officials to count some late-arriving absentee ballots. Moody was one of 10 Republicans attorneys general who filed the brief in a challenge to a decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that allowed counting absentee ballots received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election. The case is one of a flurry of lawsuits filed by Republicans alleging potential ballot fraud in various states. The GOP attorneys general in Mondayโs brief said the decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court โexacerbated the risks of ballot fraudโ in the key swing state. The brief was filed by Moody and the attorneys general of Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas.
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Donโt let good will go to waste; look out for holiday scams
With the holiday season fast approaching, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning of holiday scams and launching new resources to help protect yourself and your family. Itโs called Scams at a Glance: 'Tis the Season. The brochure provides resources and information on emerging frauds and schemes associated with the holidays and charitable donations. For a Spanish version of the Tis the Season edition, click here. Moody said knowing what to look for is the first step to keep yourself from becoming a victim.
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Florida joins feds in antitrust suit against Google
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Florida was one of 11 states that joined the U.S. Department of Justice in filing a major antitrust lawsuit Tuesday against internet search giant Google. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that Google has engaged in anticompetitive practices. โAbsent a court order, Google will continue executing its anticompetitive strategy, crippling the competitive process, reducing consumer choice, and stifling innovation,โ the lawsuit said. โGoogle is now the unchallenged gateway to the internet for billions of users worldwide. In a prepared statement, Moody said an investigation into Google โrevealed that the global tech behemoth allegedly used its size and scale to build a moat around its core markets -- general search services and search advertising.โ
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DEA chief warns of potential flood of drugs from Mexico
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Administrator Timothy Shea warned Tuesday that the eventual lifting of coronavirus restrictions could bring a flood of methamphetamine and other narcotics from Mexico into the United States. Shea met in Tallahassee with federal, state and local law-enforcement officials from North Florida and Attorney General Ashley Moody. But Shea expects that will change with development of a vaccine for the virus and the eventual lifting of restrictions. โVirtually all of the methamphetamine and much of the fentanyl in this country comes from Mexico,โ Shea said. โThese drugs are manufactured on an industrial scale in Mexico using precursor chemicals from China and then smuggled across the border and distributed to every state in the country.โ
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Moody & Crime Stoppers unveil first-of-its-kind statewide tip line
Thereโs a new option on the table for Floridians who wish to share crime tips without compromising their anonymity. On Thursday, Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers (FACS) unveiled a first-of-its-kind anonymous tip line that works no matter where in the state the tipster is calling from. Now, all tipsters have to do is dial **TIPS (**8477) and theyโll be connected with the local Crime Stoppers office in the region theyโre calling from. During a news conference in Tampa, Moody expressed optimism that the tip line would build on Crime Stoppers' track record of helping police solve open cases. โThe network of 27 Crime Stoppers chapters serving Florida is excited about implementing this new technology,โ added Frank Brunner, president of the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers and executive director for Manatee County Crime Stoppers.
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Republicans cry foul over Bloomberg donations for felon voters
The controversy comes after former Democratic Presidential Candidate Michael Bloomberg pledged to donate at least $16 million to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. โIt doesnโt smell good, it doesnโt look good,โ said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a Republican. Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Deputy Director Neil Volz said the organization doesnโt ask about the race or political leanings of the felons whose fines they pay. The coalition told us it has so far spent $5 million to pay the fines and fees of 5,000 felons. There are estimated to be about 750,000 felons in Florida currently blocked from voting because of outstanding costs related to their sentence.
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Florida seeks investigation on Bloomberg donation on voting
Attorney General Ashley Moody sent letters to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI saying that further investigation is warranted. Ron DeSantis had asked Moody to review allegations that Bloomberg and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition had violated the law by offering incentives for voting. The Florida Rights Restitution Coalition had raised about $5 million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17 million more, according to Bloomberg staffers. Neil Volz, the group's executive director, has also had his voting rights restored and the clemency board restored his other civil rights Wednesday. โIt just seems like, then what is enough?โThe question of satisfying financial obligations before voting rights are restored continues to be battled in court.
DeSantis defends agenciesโ response to coronavirus
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ With Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried calling for a coordinated response by statewide elected officials to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday defended the actions of agencies under his control. DeSantis and the Cabinet also held a conference call on May 28. Fried, the lone statewide elected Democrat, has repeatedly called for Cabinet meetings and more coordination amid the pandemic. โWhen you talk to like a hospital or all these places, itโs not only that weโre there to help, theyโll say that, but weโre there very quickly when someone needs something,โ DeSantis told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
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People impacted by Hurricane Sally should guard against price gouging, scams and fraud
Sadly, these events often bring with them a wave of fraud and other types of crime. My office and local law enforcement will work tirelessly to protect Floridians, but citizens can help by taking steps to protect themselves. Attorney General Ashley MoodyAccording to Moodyโs office, after a natural disaster consumers should be wary of tree service scams, building and home repair scams, disaster relief scams and water testing and treatment scams. Charity Scams: This scam is particularly effective after a disaster, during which numerous disaster-specific charities pop up. If you would like to donate to help with disaster relief, consider these tips:Avoid solicitors that use high-pressure tactics or are hesitant to provide additional information on the charitable organizationBe wary of charities with similar-sounding names.
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Moody: Former ITT students in Florida to get $24M in debt relief
The 47 attorneys general and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reached the settlement with PEAKS Trust, which ran a private loan program for ITT Tech. According to the agreement, PEAKS acknowledged coercing students into taking out high-interest loans, has agreed to forgive outstanding loans and end operations. โI am glad we were able to secure debt relief for former students who are still financially affected by this high-pressure loan program,โ Moody said in a statement. Moody said students donโt have to do anything to receive the relief. Students may direct questions to PEAKS at customerservice@peaksloans.com or 866-747-0273, or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at 855-411-2372.
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Florida governor vetoes bill because of liquid nicotine ban
Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill to raise the age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 because it would have also banned the sale of flavored liquid nicotine products used in vaping. This legislation would almost assuredly lead more people to resume smoking cigarettes and it would drive others to the hazardous black market, DeSantis wrote, pointing out lung injury associated with black market products. He said it also would be devastating to small businesses that sell vaping products. The veto came hours after Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a press release warning about the dangers of underage vaping. The statement touted her work to get the bill passed.
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Florida governor vetoes bill because of liquid nicotine ban
Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill to raise the age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 because it would have also banned the sale of flavored liquid nicotine products used in vaping. โThis legislation would almost assuredly lead more people to resume smoking cigarettes and it would drive others to the hazardous black market,โ DeSantis wrote, pointing out lung injury associated with black market products. He said it also would be devastating to small businesses that sell vaping products. The veto came hours after Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody issued a press release warning about the dangers of underage vaping. The United States and Florida Surgeons General have declared vaping to be an epidemic.
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Scammers putting COVID-19 twist on imposter scheme, state leader warns
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. โ Scammers targeting parents and grandparents with phony calls about family member arrests are using COVID-19 concerns to strike more fear, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said. Moody warned in a Consumer Alert issued Tuesday that scammers are putting a new twist on the common scam. For years, she said, scammers have targeted parents and grandparents with phony calls claiming a family member is under arrest. Imposter phone calls are effective because spoofing technology allows scammers to change the information displayed on caller IDs to give the appearance that their calls are coming from a government entity. To avoid falling victim to an imposter scam:Do not automatically trust the number listed on the caller ID, especially with respect to unsolicited calls.
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Isaias leads Florida to expand price-gouging hotline
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Ahead of Hurricane Isaias arrival, Floridas attorney general has expanded the price-gouging hotline, which has been activated for the pandemic since March, to include storm supplies as well. Hand sanitizer, personal protective equipment and household cleaning supplies were protected under the original order enacted in response to coronavirus, but now gas, food and water will be included, too. Attorney General Ashley Moody said her office has screened thousands of complaints from the pandemic and recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars. She said her office is up to the task of expanding its work. That is unique, but what is not unique is how the Florida Attorney Generals Office will respond and take those complaints, Moody said.
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Isaias added to Floridas price-gouging hotline
Attorney General Ashley Moody added Hurricane Isaias to the states price-gouging hotline operations on Friday. If you see price gouging, report it to my office, Moody said in a video released by her office. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 19 counties as the storm churned toward Floridas Atlantic coast. State law prohibits excessive increases in the price of essential commodities --- such as food, water, hotel rooms, ice, gasoline and lumber --- during a state of emergency. The hotline is available using Moodys NO SCAM app or by calling 1-866-9NO-SCAM.