Florida Attorney General - Volume 7, Issue 42

Publication of the Office of the Attorney General • Volume 7, Issue 42 • October 23, 2009

The Ft. Myers Housing Crisis

Tomorrow, my office is hosting a community forum in Fort Myers to discuss the housing crisis. With Florida's Interagency Mortgage Task Force, we will provide attendees with a comprehensive approach for dealing with housing-related issues. Volunteer lawyers will also be on hand to help give consumers guidance and advice.

Southwest Florida has been hit especially hard in the economic downturn. Hendry County reported the highest unemployment numbers in Florida for September. There were 4,888 total foreclosure-related notices filed in the Cape Coral and Fort Myers area in September, which equates to one for every 74 households. Families in this region are clearly facing unprecedented times and undoubtedly being forced to make difficult choices.

As Floridians weather these uncertain times, my office will continue our outreach efforts to assist homeowners and educate consumers in an effort to protect our citizens from any unscrupulous people looking to gain from the hardships of others.

Attorney General McCollum announced that his CyberCrime Unit has arrested a 28-year old Pinellas County man on charges of child pornography possession and promotion. Karl Strasser was taken into custody this morning by law enforcement with the CyberCrime Unit and the Clearwater Police Department.

Attorney General McCollum presented the American Cancer Society with a check for $47,500 obtained from a settlement with sunscreen manufacturers. The Attorney General’s office reached the settlement with Energizer Personal Care Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic Sun Products, resolving issues related to the marketing of the sunscreen products.

A Holmes County man has been arrested for defrauding the Florida Medicaid program out of more than $33,000. Robert Greenlee, owner of Greenlee and Sons Construction in Bonifay, was arrested today by officers with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant from the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Two members of a violent “hybrid” gang in Gadsden County have been convicted by an Orange County jury on criminal charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Quintarius Shorter
and Ladipo Chad Bethea were among seven who were arrested last year and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. The guilty verdicts were returned late Friday night.

Attorney General McCollum filed a lawsuit against a Miami-Dade County business, its owners and several straw buyers for their participation in an equity skimming scheme that victimized at least 20 South Florida homeowners. Xolutex, Inc., and principals Ceasar F. Tavaras and George Ibanez are named in the lawsuit, which claims the equity losses as a result of the scheme exceeded $1.9 million.

Attorney General McCollum announced that Florida, along with several states and the federal government, has reached agreement with four pharmaceutical companies to resolve claims that they violated the False Claims Act by failing to pay appropriate rebates for drugs paid for by Medicaid. Florida will receive more than $7 million from settlements with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and UDL Laboratories Inc. Over $101,000 will go to the state’s Medicaid Fraud Informant Reward Program.

Attorney General McCollum announced his office has filed two lawsuits on behalf of Florida consumers against five debt settlement-related companies. According to the Attorney General’s lawsuits, the businesses promised consumers they could pay off their debts for a fraction of the amount owed, but instead collected large up-front fees and left customers with little or no money to pay creditors.

Reported Hate Crimes in Florida Continuing to Decrease

Pinellas County Man Arrested for Possession, Promotion of Child Pornography

Attorney General Sues South Florida Business for Equity Skimming Scheme

Attorney General's Statement on the Death of Somer Thompson

Holmes County Contractor Arrested for Defrauding Medicaid Out of More Than $33,000

Attorney General Recovers Over $7 Million for Florida from Pharmaceutical Companies

Attorney General Urges Citizens to Search for Missing Second Grader

Attorney General Obtains Over $47,000 for American Cancer Society

Attorney General McCollum Targets Debt Relief Industry Abuses

Orange County Jury Convicts North Florida Gang Members

Attorney General McCollum released the 2008 Florida Hate Crimes Report, which indicates that reported hate crimes in Florida are at their lowest level since 1997. During the 2008 calendar year, 182 hate crimes were reported by law enforcement agencies, well below the annual average of 267 reported hate crime incidents since reporting began in 1990.

Attorney General Bill McCollum released the following statement in response to the news of Somer Thompson's death:
"I was greatly saddened by the news from Clay County this morning regarding the murder of Somer Thompson. The loss of a child is truly one of the most horrific things a family can experience, and my heart goes out to Somer's parents, her twin brother and older sister, and loved ones as they grieve the loss of this little precious girl."

Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued the following statement on the active Amber Alert for a missing Clay County second grader:
“Amber Alerts are a critical tool for helping locate missing children. Sending this information out in real time can help save a child’s life.”