Attorney General's Weekly Newsletter
Volume 7, Issue 34 • August 28, 2009

Every year, crime touches the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of Floridians. In the aftermath of tragedy, Florida victims – especially child victims – and their families deserve our best efforts to protect them, to serve them, and to care for them.

This year, my office awarded more than $19.3 million in grant funding to help crime victims throughout Florida. The funds, provided to over 200 private and public agencies through the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), will make direct services available to victims of crime.

Victims and their families depend on the support from these programs that specialize in providing services, from counseling to assistance navigating the criminal justice system. Without VOCA grants, many of these programs would be seriously crippled, unable to serve the people who need help and assistance the most. Through the grants administered by my office, we can continue supporting the programs that create lifelines of hope, and help.

CyberCrime Update:


A St. Petersburg man is in custody on charges of child pornography possession and promotion. CyberCrime investigators determined Gary Lee Peel had created and was maintaining a website offering images and videos of child pornography. He was arrested this morning by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General’s CyberCrime Unit with assistance from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the St. Petersburg Police Department.

Consumer Protection Actions:


Attorney General McCollum announced that his office has awarded more than $19.3 million in grant funding to help crime victims throughout Florida. The funds, provided to over 200 private and public agencies through the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), will provide direct services to victims of crime. The Attorney General made the announcement at Turn About, Inc., a Tallahassee program that provides direct services to children in schools and facilitates early victim identification.

Attorney General McCollum announced that his office has awarded more than $633,000 in grants to six Hillsborough County programs that provide victims services in the county. The funds, provided through the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), will provide direct services to victims of crime, from counseling to assistance with court appearances.

Criminal Proceedings:


A Orange County man was sentenced to 25 years in prison and $350,000 in fines for his involvement in a Central Florida narcotics trafficking enterprise. Bruce Haynes, of Winter Garden, was convicted in August on conspiracy to traffic and trafficking charges.

A Broward County man was convicted by a Palm Beach County jury of burglary, grand theft, resisting arrest and aggravated assault charges. Alvara Valdez faces a 60-year prison sentence as a prison releasee reoffender and habitual felony offender when he is sentenced at a later date. He was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution and the State Attorney’s Office for the 15th Judicial Circuit.

A Volusia County woman has been taken into custody on charges that she was operating an assisted living facility without a license. Marjorie Nelson, owner and operator of Helping Hands Manor I and II in Edgewater, was arrested by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Attorney General McCollum announced the arrest of three individuals from Duval County on charges they were operating two separate assisted living facilities without licenses. Tommy Teague, Roberto Gallegos and Torina Brooks were arrested this morning by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

A Manatee County gang member was convicted late Friday night of criminal racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Ryan Simmons, a member of the Third Shift criminal street gang operating in Manatee County, was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Simmons’ sentence is the longest ever handed down to a gang member since the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution began using the racketeering statute to prosecute criminal gangs.

News Releases:



Attorney General McCollum's statement on George LeMieux's appointment to the U.S. Senate

Orange County Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Drug Trafficking

Ft. Lauderdale Man Convicted on Numerous Criminal Charges

Attorney General Awards More Than $19 Million for Crime Victims

McCollum: Six Hillsborough County Programs Get Over $633,000 in Federal Funding for Victim Services

St. Pete Man Arrested for Creating, Maintaining Child Pornography Website

Volusia County Woman Arrested for Operating Assisted Living Facility without License

McCollum: Duval County Sweep Results in 3 Arrests for Operating Unlicensed Assisted Living Facilities

Third Shift Gang Member Receives 60-Year Prison Sentence

Additional Notes:


Attorney General McCollum issued the following statement on George LeMeiux's appointment to the U.S. Senate:

"I congratulate George LeMieux on his appointment as Florida's U.S. Senator. I have known George for a long time, both as a friend and as a former Deputy Attorney General, a capacity in which he served this office well. I wish him the best in serving the people of Florida in the U.S. Senate."