Fla. Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll quits amid Allied Veterans investigation

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Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll announced her resignation Wednesday, a day after being questioned by authorities investigating a company that she once represented.

As a veteran who served during the Gulf War, Carroll spoke of her own service in a promotional video. She highlighted her ties to the Allied Veterans group that’s now accused of running a fraudulent charity and pocketing $300 million.

The group is so tainted that Carroll resigned with a two-sentence letter. She said the resignation was effective immediately.

9 Investigates learned that her connections to Allied Veterans run deep.

“I think it’s clear from the facts that you cite that, politically, she has crossed the line,” said WFTV political analyst Dr. Rick Foglesong.

As a state representative Carroll did consulting work for the group.

In 2009 she listed Allied Veterans as a major source of personal income, but did not specify an amount.




http://www.veteransnewsnow.com/2013/03/14/veterans-scam-charity-sinks-major-florida-politician/

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1. Fla. Gambling Arrests May Close Veterans Shelter

http://nation.time.com/2013/03/15/fla-gambling-arrests-may-close-veterans-shelter/

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2. Allied Veterans’ $1.3 million in political giving reached all corners of Tally

Allied Veterans, a nonprofit group that operates controversial strip-mall casinos across Florida, was accused this week of being a $300 million criminal enterprise.

The biggest receivers of the group’s political giving by far where Florida Republicans, including lawmakers in position to control the gaming agenda in Tallahassee.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/11793113

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3. Co-conspirators in alleged illegal gambling ring seek bond

SANFORD --
Some of those accused in what investigators call a sophisticated illegal gambling scheme involving internet cafes appeared in court Thursday.


The scandal involving Allied Veterans of the World led to the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll.


One after one, more than a dozen of the more than 50 people accused in the organized illegal gambling operation appeared before a judge.


Many of them tried to get their bonds reduced so they could get out of jail.


The money used to post for bond must not be tied at all to the alleged illegal gambling operation they are accused in.


Wednesday, state and federal officials began releasing information about their lengthy investigation into an organized conspiracy they say was orchestrated by Allied Veterans of the World, which was registered as a nonprofit to benefit veterans.
http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/3/14/co_conspirators_in_a.html

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4. Florida GOP donating $300K to veterans' charity after arrests

TALLAHASSEE --
The Republican Party of Florida is donating $300,000 to a veterans’ charity in the wake of a gambling scandal involving Allied Veterans of the World.

Republican Party Chairman Lenny Curry said the party would be giving the money to the Florida Veterans Foundation.

Meanwhile, a dozen suspects involved in the alleged gambling scheme made an appearance Friday before a Seminole County judge.

Twelve suspects were in court and several of them are staying in jail, until they can prove their bond money is not connected to any tainted proceeds from the alleged illegal gambling operation.

Overall, 57 people have been charged with various racketeering crimes, related to running an illegal gambling operation out of Internet cafes, claiming to be non-profit charities for veterans.

Investigators said the operation made $300 million, but only 2 percent was given to veterans.

Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigned Tuesday, after she was questioned about her involvement with the Allied Veterans Internet cafe company.
http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/3/16/florida_gop_donating.html

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5. Judge barges into Allied Veterans hearing, orders it to halt

SANFORD – Circuit Judge John Galluzzo did the unexpected on Wednesday: He barged into a hearing being conducted by another judge, took control, told a dozen criminal defense attorneys that their clients would not get a chance to argue for bail and then left.

"Have a good afternoon," he told them. "I've made my ruling."

Defense attorneys were outraged. Their clients were being held without bond — some had already been in jail more than 24 hours — and would spend another night behind bars.




http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-allied-veterans-judge-20130315,0,1008379.story

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6. RPOF to donate $300,000 to veterans group after Internet cafe probe

Internet cafe probe



From the Republican Party of Florida:

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) will donate $300,000 to the Florida Veterans Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group, after learning that political contributions had been raised from an organization that now stands accused of using veteran's charities as a front for alleged illegal activity.

"RPOF respects our nation's veterans, and we have zero tolerance for this kind of activity," said Chairman Lenny Curry. "It is outrageous to all Floridians that anyone would use our veterans as a front for criminal actions."

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2013/03/rpof-to-donate-300000-to-veterans-group-after-internet-cafe-probe.html#storylink=cpy

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7. Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigns amid state, federal probe of non-profit veterans group

By Tia Mitchell

Herald/Times Tallahassee Bureau


TALLAHASSEE -- Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll abruptly resigned Tuesday after law enforcement officials questioned her about ties to a purported veterans charity organization at the center of a $300 million multi-state racketeering investigation.

Florida law enforcement officials would not say if Carroll, 53, is facing possible criminal charges in connection with the case. Gov. Rick Scott also would not comment. Scott said he would not name Carroll’s replacement until the end of the annual legislative session in May.

“She resigned, and she did the right thing for her state and for her family,” Scott said.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/13/3283274/lt-gov-jennifer-carroll-resigns.html#storylink=cpy

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8. In Florida, a Political Marriage Soured Before a Top Official Stepped Down

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — As the annual press corps political roast unfolded here on Tuesday evening, Gov. Rick Scott stared stone-faced, holding a secret, while he watched a reporter spoof his strained relationship with his lieutenant governor, Jennifer Carroll.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/18/us/jennifer-carroll-resignation-preceded-by-tensions-with-rick-scott.html?pagewanted=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130318

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9. Latest

http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Jennifer-Carroll-Financial-Disclosure-Flawed-198863821.html


http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/legislators-rush-to-unload-tainted-gambling-cash/2110057