Florida Attorney General - Volume 7, Issue 38

Publication of the Office of the Attorney General • Volume 7, Issue 38 • September 25, 2009

Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009

This week, I joined 53 Attorneys General in expressing support for the federal Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009. This bill, if passed by Congress, would increase the maximum amount of annual Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants to states over the next five years.

Grants to state VOCA victim assistance programs fund services to more than four million victims of all types of crimes, including, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, survivors of homicide victims, drunk driving crashes, stalking, identity theft, and elder abuse. This increase in federal support will help to ensure that we are able to continue to support victims at a high level and for years to come.

Florida victims and their families deserve our best efforts to protect them, to serve them, and to care for them. I am proud to add my voice to those in support of this proposed federal legislation.

Attorney General McCollum announced that his office has reached a settlement with a Broward County business over the sale of expired vitamins. Global Source Management & Consulting, Inc., also known as Vitamin Hut, and owner Gary R. Dubin will pay $150,000 in fines and penalties to resolve a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General’s Office in February 2008.

Attorney General McCollum announced his office filed a law suit against a Miami company, a related company and company principals over allegations the companies engaged in deceptive marketing practices. Advanced Wellness Research, Inc. allegedly offered free trials for its products, including Acai berry supplements and whitening toothpaste, but failed to provide reasonable notice that customers would be charged approximately $80 on a monthly basis for products they did not intend to purchase.

Attorney General McCollum joined 53 Attorneys General in expressing their support for the Crime Victims Fund Preservation Act of 2009 (S. 1340; HR 3402). The Attorneys General sent a letter to members of Congress encouraging them to pass the bill, which would increase the maximum amount of annual Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants to states over the next five years.

A Lee County woman was sentenced to 25 years in prison for heroin trafficking and conspiracy to traffic heroin. Cynthia Mitchell was convicted by a jury in July 2009 of trafficking in four or more grams of heroin and conspiracy to traffic 28 grams or more of heroin. The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

A Bay County woman was arrested on charges that she misused her job at a Bay County group home to fraudulently obtain a controlled substance. Rekenda D. Gaines was arrested by investigators with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with assistance from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Attorney General Reaches Agreement With Broward Business Over Sale of Expired Vitamins

Lee County Woman Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Heroin Trafficking

Attorney General Sues Online Health Product Distributor

McCollum: Florida Joins States in Support of More Federal Funding for Victims of Crime Act Grants

Caregiver Arrested for Using Job to Obtain Narcotics