Attorney General's Weekly Newsletter
Volume 7, Issue 23 • June 13, 2009

This week I had the distinct honor to announce my CyberCrime Unit's participation in a statewide operation of incredible significance. Together with 22 other local, state and federal agencies, we arrested 77 individuals, including four registered sex offenders, for various cybercrime-related charges. Even more important, the operation resulted in the rescue of five victims, including one child who told investigators of 10 years of repeated abuse.

This operation showcased cooperation at its best, and I would love to see more statewide partnerships develop to fight child pornography and internet child predators. John Walsh, host of America's Most Wanted, has called Florida a leader in this effort, and I join him in encouraging every other state in the nation to use Florida as a model for their own cybercrime initiatives.

The operation will be featured Saturday night, June 13, on America's Most Wanted and I encourage all Floridians to watch the show and learn more about the work we are doing to protect Florida's children. Show times and schedules are online at http://www.amw.com.

CyberCrime Update:


A Pinellas County man is in custody and will be charged with possessing and promoting child pornography. Richard W. Board was arrested by law enforcement with the Attorney General's CyberCrime Unit after investigators discovered Board had numerous images of child pornography in his possession. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the St. Petersburg Police Department assisted with the arrest.

Attorney General McCollum joined Governor Charlie Crist, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Gerald Bailey, and John Walsh, host of America's Most Wanted, to announce the results of a 10-week statewide cybercrime operation. The operation, dubbed “Operation Orange Tree” was a cooperative effort by 23 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together to target some of the state's worst cybercrime offenders. The Attorney General's CyberCrime Unit was among the operation's leading participants.

A Miami man is in custody on charges of sexual battery on a child. Acting on a tip received from a Clay County student at one of the Attorney General's CyberSafety presentations, deputies from Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler's Office arrested Anthony Alexander Caldara, a mechanic serving active duty in the U.S. Navy, for sexually abusing a young girl. The tip was reported by the victim's older sister to an investigator with the Attorney General's CyberCrime Unit.

Consumer Protection Actions:


Attorney General McCollum announced his office has reached an agreement with Albertsons LLC over allegations several of the company's stores refused to honor sales prices printed in the company's weekly flyers. The agreement calls for $200,000 for consumer restitution, fees and costs and the Attorney General will hold the entire amount available for potential consumer restitution at a maximum of $20 per household with proof of purchase.

Attorney General 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 $1.3 billion rate increase by Florida Power & Light (FP&L). The first of the hearings, at which residents may air their concerns about the proposed increase, are scheduled to take place in Sarasota and Ft. Myers on Friday June 19. Additional hearings will occur over the following week throughout the FP&L service area.

Criminal Proceedings:


Attorney General McCollum announced a Palm Beach County man was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to various charges of criminal fraud, including identity theft, grand theft, and insurance fraud. William V. Pasiecki was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims and reimbursement to the state for the costs of the investigation and prosecution. Pasiecki was prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution.

A Lake County man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking narcotics throughout Central Florida. Marco Antonio Perez Torres, who is currently in the country illegally, pleaded guilty to trafficking 400 grams or more of cocaine and conspiracy to traffic 400 grams or more of cocaine. He was prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution.

A Duval County man is in custody after he defrauded the Florida Medicaid Program out of more than $262,000. Oliver Workman, a speech pathologist in Jacksonville, surrendered to law enforcement at the Clay County Jail after learning the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit had issued a warrant for his arrest.

News Releases:



McCollum, Public Counsel Encourage FP&L Customers to Participate in Rate Hike Hearings, Share Concerns

McCollum Obtains Agreement with Albertsons Over Ad Prices Not Honored

Palm Beach County Man Gets 7 Years in Prison for Criminal Fraud

Central Florida Cocaine Trafficker Receives 10-Year Prison Sentence

Pinellas County Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

Speech Pathologist Arrested for Defrauding Medicaid out of over $262,000

Statewide Operation Nets 77 CyberCrime Arrests

McCollum's CyberSafety Presentation Leads to Arrest of Miami Man

Productivity Report:




Additional Notes:


Today Attorney General McCollum sent a letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in response to a public records matter concerning Florida State University. At issue is a letter from the NCAA to the University, which the University has indicated a willingness to provide but to which the NCAA has limited access.

According to the Attorney General, because the NCAA has provided the letter in a format which the University may only view but not download or otherwise copy, it appears that the NCAA is therefore acting as the custodian of this record on behalf of the University. A lack of physical custody of a document does not excuse Florida State University from its obligations under Florida law. The NCAA, as the University’s custodian of the letter, is obligated to comply with the requirements of Florida’s Public Records Law.

The Attorney General also noted that the documents at issue are considered to be at the crux of a significant matter for Florida State University, its football program, and thousands of football fans throughout the state. He observed that the records request would be all the more important for the people of Florida who wish to obtain vital information about a University matter in which they have invested time, money, and a sense of honor.

A copy of the letter is available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7SXR48/$file/BrandLetter.pdf