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Volume 1, Issue 7 |
Friday, May 2, 2003 |
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Office of the Attorney General
PL-01, The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Citizen Services
(850) 414-3990
Capitol Offices
(850) 245-0140
Fax
(850) 487-2564
Fraud Hotline
1-866-9-NO-SCAM
1-866-966-7226
Contact
Online Form
Web Page
http://myfloridalegal.com
Previous Issues
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Message from Attorney General Charlie Crist
This week has been a true celebration of the rule of law — and the role of law — in America and the world. Even when it isn’t pretty, life in a society controlled by laws is still an ideal pursued by people all over the world.
As Attorney General, it is my sworn duty to uphold the law. But I have always had a deep and abiding respect for the law, because I recognize that without the law to set guidelines for behavior, the United States — the greatest nation to ever exist on this planet — could never endure.
Several events this week were vivid reminders of just how important the law is for each of us.
It was my privilege to speak at the annual Law Day Celebration in Tallahassee on Thursday. The festivities recognized outstanding attorneys who work with the law to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. For example, one of the honorees was Tallahassee attorney Bruce Conroy, who developed numerous legal assistance programs for the homeless and other needy citizens — all while working for the taxpayers as an attorney with the Florida Department of Transportation.
Earlier that same day, I attended an event recognizing what may be the law’s greatest gift to all Americans: the freedom to worship as each of us chooses. Several hundred Floridians came to the Capitol Courtyard for the annual National Day of Prayer observance. This event embraces believers of numerous faiths. It could not take place in countries where religious freedom does not exist and persecution is a reality for those of minority faiths. The observance was a good reminder that the earliest settlers crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of a place to worship as they chose, and the Founding Fathers made certain the laws of this land guaranteed that same freedom for everyone.
Who could not be mindful of our freedoms this week, when President Bush declared that the combat phase of operations in Iraq had ended? Those operations began to bring freedom to the long-oppressed Iraqi people. With the President’s announcement this week, we can be assured that true freedom will spread throughout Iraq, that the rule of law will finally replace the rule of the dictator.
What sets Americans apart from the rest of the world is our fundamental commitment to living by the guidelines spelled out in our laws. Ultimately, it is the law that binds us together as a society. It is the law that keeps us free.
And that’s something worth celebrating.
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| Other News:
IDENTITY THEFT — Attorney General Crist praised the nation’s three major credit bureaus for making it easier for consumers to notify the bureaus when they believe they have been the victim of identity theft. The three credit bureaus, which maintain consumer credit histories that businesses use when evaluating credit applications, announced that they will share information with each other regarding identity theft. Under this system, a victim will only have to notify one credit bureau, and that company will notify the other two of the identity theft. The Attorney General has placed a major emphasis on fighting identity theft, which is one of the fastest growing crimes in Florida and the nation, and commended the Legislature for passing a bill imposing tougher penalties for ID theft. Once it is signed by Governor Bush, the new law will make identity theft of more than $20,000 a second-degree felony, while the looting of more than $100,000 would become a first-degree felony carrying a 30-year maximum prison sentence. A conviction of a second-degree felony would carry a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. The Attorney General said the intent of the legislation is to create a meaningful deterrent, causing potential thieves to think twice before preying on innocent people.
FRAUD PROSECUTION — The Office of Statewide Prosecution, a unit of the Attorney General’s Office, will prosecute a man who was charged this week with defrauding Floridians who thought they were investing in a film project. State agents arrested Eddie Beverly, whose last known address was in Indianapolis, and charged him with 57 counts of securities fraud and other securities law violations. Beverly is accused of defrauding at least 11 people out of $600,000 by getting them to buy partnerships in a film project. Because the transactions took place in multiple jurisdictions — Pinellas, Sarasota, Broward and Lee counties — the Statewide Prosecutor’s Office will represent the state in Beverly’s criminal trial.
DEATH PENALTY APPEAL — At the urging of the Attorney General’s Office, the Florida Supreme Court refused a murderer’s request for an extra opportunity to appeal his conviction. John C. Marquard was sentenced to death for the 1991 murder of Stacey Willets near St. Augustine. Marquard and a co-defendant were traveling from North Carolina with Willets when they decided to kill her in order to steal her car and money. Both Marquard and the co-defendant were convicted, and last November the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Marquard. The convicted killer then filed a motion asking for a rehearing, but this week the justices denied the request.
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