Fla. politician resigns, 57 charged in scandal
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Florida’s lieutenant governor resigned and nearly 60 other people were charged in a scandal involving a purported veterans charity that authorities said Wednesday was a front for a $300 million gambling operation.
The organization, Allied Veterans of the World, runs nearly 50 Internet parlors with computerized slot machine-style games, which are normally legal in Florida if most of the proceeds go to charity.
But investigators said the organization’s executives gave precious little to veterans and lavished millions on themselves, spending it on boats, beachfront condos and Maserati’s, Ferrari’s and Porsches.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi called the alleged scam “callous” and “despicable” and said it “insults every American who ever wore a military uniform.” SOURCE
OK, there is very little that gets me more angry than an organization that is supposed to be helping Veterans and turns out to be a scam, a scheme or anything other than what it is intended to be!
I don’t do any *on line gambling* so I am not at all familiar with this Allied Veterans of the World but if their game is to use Veterans causes to scam money and then use that money for themselves, I sincerely hope that they ALL do some serious time over it.
Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll was not among those charged but resigned a day after she was questioned by investigators.
I don’t want to point a finger or make any accusations that could be construed as *out of line* but there is NOTHING that says *GUILTY* like being a part of the investigation and suddenly quitting your job and walking away.
Her public relations firm did work for St. Augustine-based Allied Veterans. A Navy veteran who served in the Gulf War, Carroll also appeared in a TV ad in 2011 promoting the organization’s work on behalf of veterans and their families.
Authorities refused to discuss any ties between the 53-year-old Republican and the investigation. Her aides had no comment.
Carroll’s resignation letter did not explain why she was stepping down, but Republican Gov. Rick Scott said she resigned so that her ties to the organization would not be a distraction for the administration.
Some folks will NOT like what I am about to say but this is VERY reminiscent of the reasons Sarah Palin gave when she quit HER job as Governor of Alaska, she didn’t want to be a distraction I believe?
I’m sorry folks but in MY mind, if you’re RIGHT, if you have done nothing wrong, you stay the course and fight for your good name.
The investigation involved 57 arrest warrants and 54 search warrants issued in Florida and five other states: South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Nevada and Pennsylvania. As of midafternoon, 49 people had been arrested. Allied Veterans’ 49 parlors in Florida were raided and shut down.
Authorities said they seized about 300 bank accounts containing $64.7 million, as well as sports cars and other property.
I hope that somewhere along the way that money, and the money the cars and property generate will be spread out back into legitimate Veterans charities.
Bondi said that when charges are formally filed next week they will include racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and possession of slot machines.
“It is shameful that Allied Veterans of the World allegedly attempted to use the guise of charitable organization to help veterans in order to lend credibility to this $300 million gambling scheme,” she said.
Hang em out to dry and feed the bodies to the gators.
The only thing lower than someone that would cheat Veterans is, in MY opinion, would be someone that stole from widows and orphans.
Carroll became embroiled in a short-lived scandal last year when a fired staffer claimed that she walked in on Carroll and a female aide in a compromising position. Carroll denied that.
She became the brunt of late-night talk show hosts after she told a TV station that black women who look like her “don’t engage in relationships like that.” She later apologized for any implication that black lesbians are unattractive.
And see, all this time I thought they looked like Wanda Sykes… 
Political correctness, for goodness sake, lets not offend ANY Black Lesbians, but I have to wonder; are Black Lesbians a big voting block in Florida? 
I’ve always said that not nearly enough politicians, judges, lawyers, heads of agencies, mayors, city council members, county supervisors and various other political appointees and white collar workers who hold themselves above everyone else and aside from everyone else get killed, sodomized, raped, shot, stabbed, struck in anger, throttled, garrotted, Tazed, electrocuted, injected lethally, castrated, eviscerated or decapitated for their various forms of evil. They so infrequently find themselves actual victims but instead are the perpetrators of evil nationwide.
Don’t you think there’s a REASON that the FBI does NOT mandate UCR recording on each crime report in every agency in the nation?
BZ
Castrate the males, sew up the vaginas of the women,,,,who did this dastardly act to our Veterans!!!
In Florida, wouldn’t take much to feed them to the GATORS!!!!!!
You are being too lenient. I propose that we shove living snakes (head first) up their asses.
I like to wait until more info is available but you would think whoever was advising her missed the boat here if she’s truly innocent.
One thing I think needs to be noticed: When Repubs do stupid shit, they resign immediately. When Democrats do, it has to go through the “It’s not true” “my account was hacked” “I did it for the children” “But look at so and so who did such and such” then they resign..
IF she did this thing, she should be charged with it in court and sentenced to the hard labor. I’m betting she’s guilty before proven innocent. She’s a black woman, that should elicit Al and Jesse and MSNBC to the rescue right? Oh wait, she’s a Republican… move along.
I be like Robert. Let’s see. There’ll be more infomation I guess. Could just be another one left the plantation and must suffer. And at hands of own party like West. Just an interim opinion.
I’ve always maintained that politicians who abuse or use their office for anything other than the good of the people should get 50 years in prison with no possibility of parole.
Black lesbians..? Hmm… Sort of brings new meaning to the phrase about changing your luck…
Exploiting our Veterans? Send them off to fetch and please Bubba.
I find it very difficult keep a positive outlook about this country’s future when this kind of corruption comes to light. Shame on every damn one of them for using our honored heroes for personal gain. I don’t bottom feeders can sink any lower than that.