One year ago this week, I stood on the steps of Florida’s Historic Capitol, placed my hand on the Bible, and pledged to protect Floridians and defend our state laws. It’s an oath I take seriously. One I live out daily. As we recognize this milestone, I remain as committed as I did on day one to the mission of standing guard to protect the citizens of this great state.
Before I took office, Florida did not have a Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse. Today, I am proud to chair this team of experts dedicated to finding innovative solutions to stop opioid abuse and save lives.
During my first few months as Attorney General—while balancing my duty as a mother—I heard that vaping was taking over our schools. So I traveled the state to hear from educators and law enforcement about the growing teen-vaping epidemic. Following this fact-gathering mission, I launched an extensive investigation to find out if vaping companies doing business in Florida are targeting our youth.
Under my watch, the health and safety of our children and all Floridians will never be jeopardized for financial profits. That is why I developed a Consumer Alert program, created a Senior Protection Team and launched a first-of-its kind price-gouging reporting app. It’s why I continue to aggressively pursue opioid manufacturers and distributors in court.
These are just a few of the advances made in 2019 to protect Floridians, for a more comprehensive review, click here.
While it has been a productive year, I’m not looking to the past. I am laser-focused on the future and excited about what we will do together in 2020 to build a stronger, safer Florida.
In The News
Ashley Moody Warns Super Bowl LIV Could Lead to More Human Trafficking in South Florida, Florida Daily
‘That’s How We’ll Catch These Guys’, Florida Attorney General Moody Enlists Help To Crack Down On Sex Trafficking During Super Bowl, CBS Miami
Florida, Uber partner before Super Bowl 2020 to spot human trafficking victims, Fort Myers News-Press
Hotel Workers, Uber Drivers Asked to Be on Alert for Human Trafficking During Super Bowl, Time Magazine
Florida bills would require student truckers have human trafficking training, ABC Action News
Florida Scores “A” Grade in Human Trafficking Prevention Efforts: AG Ashley Moody, Space Coast Daily
Attorney General recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Gulf Breeze News
Protecting Floridians
Attorney General’s Office Arrests Former Sunland Center Employee for Abuse of a Disabled Adult
Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of Jahnice Jones for abusing a disabled adult. Following an investigation by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office placed Jones into custody. The MFCU investigation revealed that Jones sprayed the face of a disabled adult with disinfectant spray as a form of malicious discipline.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This individual cruelly treated someone placed under her care at a care center. This is absolutely unacceptable, and my office will continue to fight to protect vulnerable Floridians by aggressively investigating and prosecuting these cases.” Read More
Attorney General Moody and Uber Host Human Trafficking Prevention Education Ahead of 2020 Super Bowl
With Super Bowl LIV to be played in Miami in less than a month, Attorney General Ashley Moody is partnering with Uber to educate thousands of drivers on how to spot and report human trafficking. In Miami, Attorney General Moody and Uber held the first of numerous driver education events for thousands of Florida drivers using Uber who will be on the roads before and during the festivities surrounding the championship football game.Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Hosting the Super Bowl is a win for Florida and I am proud that the NFL chose our state as the site of not only Super Bowl LIV but also Super Bowl LV. Sadly, when thousands of people come together to celebrate major events, criminals look to exploit the market through downright malicious acts of evil. We are making preparations now to help stop these crimes, protect visitors and hold accountable anyone who would exploit this event to profit off the misery of another human being.” Read More
Attorney General Moody Recognizes Orlando Woman for Supporting Local Law Enforcement
Attorney General Ashley Moody today surprised an Orlando woman training to become a dispatcher with a Back the Blue Award for her extraordinary support of law enforcement. Tracy Ganci is well-known throughout the Central Florida law enforcement community for supporting local law enforcement. Prior to training with the Orlando Police Department to become a police dispatcher, Ganci initiated a campaign called Random Acts of Back the Blue. The campaign aims to thank law enforcement officers for their service and show appreciation.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This world needs more people like Tracy Ganci—her unwavering support for law enforcement is exactly what my office’s Back the Blue Award aims to commend. It was an honor to surprise her today and learn more about her motivation to instill appreciation for local law enforcement. I hope Tracy encourages others to do more for our law enforcement officers and I can’t think of a better person to Back the Blue as a police dispatcher.” Read More
First Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse Meeting of 2020 Focuses on Advanced Law Enforcement Tactics and Tools
Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chair of the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse, convened the team’s first meeting of the new year. The meeting focused on advanced law enforcement tactics and tools to improve drug interdiction efforts and combat the opioid crisis claiming 15 lives a day in Florida. The group also heard from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration about enhancing the way local, state and federal law enforcement agencies work in tandem to stop the deadly influx of fentanyl into Florida.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Law enforcement officers are on the front lines of the fight to end the deadly opioid crisis, and we need to make sure Florida is equipped with the latest tools and tactics to stay a step ahead of criminals trafficking fentanyl into our state. Today’s meeting was extremely informative to that end and I am excited to see how Florida can adopt and advance some of these innovative strategies to stop opioid abuse and save lives.” Read More
Two Arrested for Defrauding City of Pembroke Pines
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Broward Office of the Inspector General announced the arrests of two individuals for their roles in defrauding the City of Pembroke Pines out of more than $700,000 in security protection services. FDLE agents, working with the Attorney General’s OSP, arrested Ololade Shokunbi and Oluwatoyin Laditan in Miami-Dade County for organized scheme to defraud. The defendants are accused of defrauding Pembroke Pines using the city’s contract with Bayus Security Services, Inc, and Bayus Security Protection, Inc., now defunct companies, to provide security services at several city-owned properties. A third defendant, Olalekan Shokunbi, remains at-large.Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Taxpayers expect that their cities will spend their hard-earned money on goods and services to help the public. In this case, Pembroke Pines residents believed that Bayus was keeping them safe and secure while on city property. However, these operators made the public less safe by using unlicensed guards, unarmed guards or no guards at all. Protecting citizens is a major tenet of my administration, and we will fight to ensure these criminals face justice.” Read More
Events
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and Attorney General Ashley Moody is raising awareness about this atrocious crime across Florida. This week, Attorney General Moody spoke at the No Room for Trafficking Summit in Miami focusing on the hotel industry’s role in combating human trafficking.
Attorney General Moody with Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez at the No Room for Trafficking Summit.
Attorney General Moody with Doral city and law enforcement leaders on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
Doral City Manager Albert Childress, MAyorr Juan Carlos Bermudez, AG Moody, Chief of Police Herman Organvidez and Deputy Chief Raul Ubieta
Doral City Manager Albert Childress, MAyorr Juan Carlos Bermudez, AG Moody, Chief of Police Herman Organvidez and Deputy Chief Raul Ubieta
Attorney General Moody in Miami with Uber for a driver education event to help drivers spot human trafficking ahead of Super Bowl LIV. Miami will host the National Football League’s championship game next month.
Attorney General Moody presenting a Back the Blue Award to police dispatcher Tracy Ganci at the Orlando Police Training Facility. In addition to her new law enforcement career, Ganci created the Random Acts of Back the Blue campaign, making handmade gifts for local officers.
Back row: Kissimmee Police Deputy Daniel Schad, Kissimmee Police Chief Jeffrey O'Dell, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon, Orlando City Commissioner Tony Ortiz, Orlando Deputy Chief Eric Smith and Orlando Deputy Chief Douglas Goerke
Back row: Kissimmee Police Deputy Daniel Schad, Kissimmee Police Chief Jeffrey O'Dell, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon, Orlando City Commissioner Tony Ortiz, Orlando Deputy Chief Eric Smith and Orlando Deputy Chief Douglas Goerke
Attorney General Moody and members of the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse holding the first meeting of 2020 in Orlando. Attorney General Moody is Chair of the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse.
