BACK THE BLUE ALERT: Attorney General Moody Recognizes Martin County Deputies for Helping Homeless Veteran

Attorney General Ashley Moody presented a Back the Blue Award to three Martin County deputies for helping a homeless Navy veteran. While serving in the Community Policing Unit, the deputies get the opportunity to build close and strong relations with the local community, including the homeless population. The deputies recently had to warn a homeless camp to move off a private lot. The deputies offered assistance to all homeless individuals, but only one accepted—a homeless veteran, who was honorably discharged after serving our country.

Deputy Andrew Adams, Deputy Joe Angelico and Sergeant George Yacobellis promised veteran Greg Willis they would help him after learning that Willis had been living in the woods for four months. The deputies contacted the Martin County Veterans Services to see if Willis qualified for housing assistance. They also made calls to churches and other local agencies for resources. Due to their dedicated work, Willis is now on a path to a more productive life.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “These three dedicated law enforcement heroes exemplify the true meaning of the Back the Blue mission. They care about their community and work hard every day to build trust with the people they serve. This story is so heart-warming. These deputies made a promise that they not only kept but went above and beyond to help a veteran get his life back on track. Thank you, deputies, for taking care of our veterans, and for serving your community so honorably.” Read More

PHOTO RELEASE: Attorney General Moody Sponsors World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Resolution

Attorney General Ashley Moody presented a resolution to the Governor and Florida Cabinet recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Proclaimed by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse in 2006, the day recognizes elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is commemorated every year on June 15 in the United States and around the world. The resolution passed unanimously.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Florida is home to millions of senior citizens and is first in the United States for populations of 65 years or older per capita. Our office is strongly committed to making sure seniors are protected from fraud and abuse and that they are treated with dignity and respect. That is why one of my first actions as Attorney General was to create a Senior Protection Team focused on protecting older Floridians. I am proud to sponsor and pass this resolution to raise awareness about elder abuse, and I remain committed to doing everything in my power to protect seniors.” Read More

Attorney General Moody's Statement on the Arrest of Former School Resource Officer Scot Peterson

Attorney General Ashley Moody released the following statement regarding the arrest of former Marjory Stoneman Douglas school resource officer Scot Peterson. Peterson is facing seven counts of neglect of a child, three counts of culpable negligence and one count of perjury for his inaction following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School:

“The Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting was a horrible tragedy and it is devastating to think that the loss of innocent lives of students and faculty could have been prevented. As a mother, I cannot imagine the heartbreak and pain the families of the victims and the whole Parkland community have felt every day since February 14, 2018. I want to thank the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Broward State Attorney's Office for investigating this tragedy and holding Scot Peterson responsible for his inaction.”

Attorney General Moody Takes Action to Stop Billing Scam

Attorney General Ashley Moody is taking action to stop a billing scam that appears to target small businesses. Attorney General Moody filed a lawsuit against United Directories, Inc. d/b/a Yellow Pages United and its owner Mark Smith. The Attorney General’s complaint alleges that the defendants sent businesses throughout the country deceptive mailers intended to look like listing confirmation notices from the Real Yellow Pages. Instead, the notices were from United Directories, an obscure online business directory with no relation to the Real Yellow Pages that charges almost $800 a year for little or no value in return. According to the complaint, once the defendants tricked the businesses into signing up for the directory, United Directories automatically charged them twice a year.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Florida businesses were unwittingly billed for services that they never knowingly ordered, and we are asking the court to stop the defendants from perpetrating this scam and provide restitution to the business owners harmed by these deceptive and unfair practices.” Read More

PHOTO RELEASE: Attorney General Moody Embarks on Fact-Gathering Mission Regarding Dramatic Increase in Teen Vaping

Attorney General Ashley Moody is traveling the state to hear from parents, teachers and law enforcement about the growing use of e-cigarettes among Florida youth. The Florida Department of Health released a report in April 2019, noting a 58 percent increase in the use of e-cigarettes among Florida high school students from 2017 to 2018. According to the report, nearly one in four Florida high school students now admits to vaping.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “As a mother, the skyrocketing use of e-cigarettes among Florida youth deeply troubles me and I want to make sure we are doing everything in our power to protect children. According to the Centers for Disease Control, vaping is highly addictive, and e-cigarettes contain chemicals like aerosol that are known to cause serious health complications."

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