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Happy Independence Day!
As Americans, we are blessed with an incredible right to freedom, but that the freedom has come at a great cost. As we prepare this weekend to celebrate the birthday of our great nation with our friends and family, we should take some time to remember the men and women who have fought to protect our country’s freedom and to keep us safe.
I am so proud of my son, Andrew, who just returned from a tour of duty in Kuwait, and of my father, who also served our nation in the Armed Forces. Many families, however, will be spending this holiday weekend apart as the brave men and women in our military fight for our safety and for the freedom of others. We appreciate their service and wish them God speed and a safe return.
Here in Florida, there are other public servants working to protect our families and neighborhoods from the threat of gangs and gang violence. Our law enforcement and prosecutors are often placed in great danger defending our communities and fighting for the safety of our children. I invite you to tune in to the History Channel’s Gangland series tonight at 9pm/8pm Central to learn about our efforts fighting gangs, particularly gangs in South Florida. More information is available online at: http://www.history.com/content/gangland.
Ingrid and I wish you all a very safe and Happy Independence Day!
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A Charlotte County man has been taken into custody on charges he sexually solicited a 14-year old girl. Adam Nelson Norsell, of Punta Gorda, made plans to meet the child for a sexual encounter but was apprehended by members of the Attorney General's Tampa CyberCrime Task Force. The Bradenton Police Department led the operation, with assistance from the CyberCrime Unit and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a Task Force member. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol also assisted with the arrest.
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Attorney General Bill McCollum and Florida’s Public Counsel J.R Kelly issued a consumer advisory on upcoming hearings to be held by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on a proposed $500 million annual rate increase by Progress Energy of Florida. Nine hearings, held so customers can share their concerns and opinions about the proposed increase, are scheduled to begin next week and will be located throughout the Progress Energy service area.
Attorney General McCollum joined with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other state authorities to announce a coordinated effort targeting scammers capitalizing on the current economic climate. The operation focused on a variety of schemes including bogus employment opportunities, fraudulent business ventures, falsified government grants and phony debt reduction services, as well as the placement of unauthorized charges on consumers’ credit or debit cards.
Attorney General McCollum joined Senator Garrett Richter and Representative Tom Grady to witness Governor Charlie Crist sign into a law a bill that further protects securities investors. The legislation broadens state authorities’ ability to investigate and pursue securities fraud and will empower the Attorney General to participate in civil investigations, with the approval of the state’s regulating authority.
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A Broward County man is in custody after he allegedly defrauded the Florida Medicaid Program out of more than $30,000. Eddy Jean-Louis, a respiratory therapist in Pembroke Pines, was arrested today by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
An owner of an unlicensed Hamilton County assisted living facility has been arrested on charges that she neglected the welfare and health of five disabled adults, operated the Jasper facility without a license, and engaged in the practice of nursing without a license. Gwendolyn Ann McClain, owner of Gwen’s Assisted Living, was arrested by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with assistance from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Two Manatee County gang members pled guilty to criminal charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Members of the Manatee County criminal Third Shift gang are being prosecuted for their criminal activities by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.
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Progress Energy Customers Urged to Attend, Participate in Hearings on Rate Hike Request
Respiratory Therapist Arrested for Defrauding Medicaid out of Over $30,000
McCollum: Florida Joins FTC, Other States in Effort Targeting Economic-Based Scams
Owner of Unlicensed Assisted Living Facility Arrested for Neglect
Charlotte County Man Arrested for Traveling to Meet a Child for Sex
Two Third Shift Gang Members Sentenced to Prison
New Law will Empower Attorney General's Office to Fight Securities Fraud
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The Attorney General wrote an op-ed piece on the new Investment Protection law. The op-ed can be read in the Ft. Myers News Press online here.
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