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Weekly Message from Attorney General Bill McCollum
Today marked the 60th and final day of the 2008 Session of the Florida Legislature. Faced with a plethora of decisions and tasks, our lawmakers worked extremely hard to pass important laws that will better protect Florida's citizens.
I am particularly proud of several pieces of legislation which passed this session that were priorities of mine. With the help of our legislative sponsors and leaders, we significantly strengthened anti-gang measures, gave victims of Florida-based child pornography a voice in court and the right to substantial civil penalties against perpetrators, provided Florida homeowners extra protection against mortgage foreclosure fraud, targeted marijuana grow houses and enhanced penalties against individuals who manufacture or sell counterfeited products.
In addition to passing significant measures which will improve public safety and have important consumer protection enhancements, the Florida Legislature also provided my CyberCrime Unit with the opportunity to continuing our statewide expansion. This expansion, which will allow us to open offices in Pensacola and Tampa within the next several months, is critical as we work to protect Florida's children from internet child predators. I am very grateful our lawmakers recognized and re-affirmed our commitment to fight cybercrime.
Florida's legislators have spent the past 60 days working hard on behalf of their constituents and their state, and for this commitment they have my appreciation and sincere respect. I look forward to the day our priorities pieces of legislation are signed into law and take effect, and I commend the Legislature for another successful session.
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In response to the incident involving a 15-year-old California girl who was lured to Florida by a man she had met online, Attorney General McCollum urged parents to familiarize themselves with his website dedicated to online safety, http://www.safeflorida.net/safesurf. The website includes comprehensive information on internet safety for young children, teens and their parents.
Attorney General McCollum applauded members of the Florida Legislature for passing the Exploited Children’s Rights Act of 2008, which will entitle victims of Florida-based child pornography to seek no less than $150,000 per incident from individuals who download and/or distribute images of the child’s sexual abuse. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Paula Dockery (R-Lakeland) as Senate Bill 1442 and Representative David Rivera (R-Miami) as House Bill 605.
CyberSafety Update - To date, the Attorney General's CyberSafety Presentation has reached more than 80,000 students.
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Attorney General McCollum expressed his appreciation to members of the Florida Legislature for passing anti-counterfeiting legislation, which targets those who manufacture, distribute or possess counterfeit goods with the intent to sell them. The bill also provides enhanced penalties for those who counterfeit goods which cause bodily injury or serious bodily injury. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla (R-Miami) and Representative Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando) and passed as House Bill 1417.
Attorney General McCollum applauded members of the Florida Legislature for passing the Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act of 2008, which will ensure that, among other things, homeowners are properly informed about their rights when they are signing a contract with a foreclosure rescue entity. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Mike Fasano (R- New Port Richey) and Representative Clay Ford (R-Pensacola) and was a priority of the Attorney General.
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Attorney General McCollum announced that a former Hospice Medicaid Coordinator was taken into custody on charges that she had been stealing money from her patients’ bank accounts. Monica Bess was arrested by authorities with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
The Florida Legislature approved House Bill (HB) 43, tough anti-gang legislation, championed by Attorney General McCollum and sponsored by Senator Jeff Atwater (R-Palm Beach Gardens) and Representative William Snyder (R-Stuart). A few of the main provisions of the bill include a gang kingpin statute which makes it a first-degree felony punishable by life for initiating, organizing, or financing criminal gang-related activity; adding new offenses to the definition of RICO predicate incidents to reflect common gang behavior such as fleeing to elude or accessory after the fact; and prohibiting use of electronic communications to further the criminal interests of a gang. An additional provision allows for civil injunctions against convicted gang members who knowingly associate with other criminal gang members or associates.
Attorney General McCollum commended Florida lawmakers for passing the Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act, which enhances penalties for people who grow marijuana in homes throughout the state. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Steve Oelrich (R-Gainesville) and Representative Nick Thompson (R-Ft. Myers).
Attorney General McCollum announced that his Office of Statewide Prosecution has concluded two cases in Lee County against three men involved in separate vehicle-related thefts. Two Lee County men received jail sentences for their connection with a ring that dealt in stolen motorcycle parts and one Collier County man was sent to prison for 56 months for stealing a dump truck. The two separate investigations were conducted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Sheriffs’ Office for Collier, Sarasota and Lee counties.
Attorney General McCollum announced that an Okaloosa caregiver formerly employed by the Fort Walton Beach Developmental Center was arrested and charged with abusing a disabled adult who was once under his care. Carl Maycock allegedly stripped a resident of the facility of his clothes outside and sprayed him with a garden hose to clean him off. Maycock was arrested by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Fort Walton Police Department.
Attorney General McCollum announced the arrest of an Escambia County licensed practical nurse on charges that she stole narcotics prescribed to one of the patients under her care at University Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center in Pensacola. Elizabeth Hope was taken into custody by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.
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Attorney General Applauds Passage of Anti-Counterfeiting Legislation
Former Hospice Coordinator Arrested for Stealing from Patients' Bank Accounts
Florida Gang Members to Face Harsher Penalties
Attorney General Praises Passage of the Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act
Attorney General McCollum Commends Legislature for Passage of Mortgage Fraud Legislation
Three Southwest Florida Residents Sentenced in Separate Lee County Cases
Attorney General's Statement on Internet Safety
Former Panhandle Caregiver Arrested, Charged with Abusing Disabled Victim
Attorney General McCollum Applauds Lawmakers for Passage of Exploited Children’s Rights Act
Licensed Pensacola Nurse Arrested for Stealing Patient's Prescription Medication
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The Anti-Counterfeiting legislation was featured earlier this week by a South Florida TV station. The story is online here.
Attorney General Bill McCollum visited Wakulla Middle School this week and spoke to students about CyberSafety. A Tallahassee TV station has the story online here.
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