The first African American to receive the Medal of Honor in  the Civil War. Despite the fact that he had been shot many times he would not let the American Flag touch the ground. A true American, what would he say if he was still alive?

Biography

William Harvey Carney was born as a slave in Norfolk, Virginia, on February 29, 1840.  How he made his way to freedom is not certain. According to most accounts, he escaped through the Underground Railroad, and joined his father in Massachusetts. Other members of their family were freed by purchase or by the death of their master.

Civil War

Carney joined the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in March 1863 as a sergeant. He took part in the July 18, 1863, assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston, South Carolina. His actions there ultimately earned him the Medal of Honor. When the color guard was killed, Carney retrieved the U.S. flag and marched forward with it, despite serious wounds. When the Union troops were forced to retreat under fire, he struggled back across the battlefield, eventually returning to his own lines and turning over the colors to another survivor of the 54th, saying, “Boys, I only did my duty; the old flag never touched the ground!”  He received an honorable discharge due to disability from his wounds in June 1864.

Dear Friends,

Another election season is almost here and your involvement is critical. It seems that we say that every election year and it is just as true today as it ever was. The socialist left is trying to tear down American culture and values. Things that once were the bedrock of our society are shouted down as evil or outdated. Things like, faith, family, freedom, opportunity and life itself are all under attack by a mob that seeks to reshape our country into a CHAZ, (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone – Seattle, Washington) where lawlessness, degradation and oppression are celebrated instead. We cannot let them win and we cannot sit at home in 2020.

The COVID situation has caused quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding the upcoming election. Talks of moving elections to an all-mail-in-ballot system have concerned many people that the other side may be trying to cheat. In Florida in 2018, we saw that two inept Supervisor of Elections in Broward and Palm Beach counties almost throw an entire gubernatorial election because of their incompetence. That following year the Florida Legislature investigated and made a number of changes to ensure that our election process remain safe and secure. As Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Elections in the Florida Senate, your Senator is committed to making sure that it is easy to vote, and very hard to cheat.  Continue reading →

On July 10, 2020, in News Releases, by Staff

$8.6 million investment will protect air quality and expand state’s charging stations by 50 percent along most traveled corridors

Orlando, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced $8.6 million in funding to strengthen Florida’s electric vehicle infrastructure. This investment marks another step in the state’s efforts to provide accessible electric vehicle infrastructure while also protecting air quality and expanding the state’s charging stations by 50 percent along most traveled corridors.

“This long-term investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure is a win for our state on multiple levels,” said Governor DeSantis. “Not only will these charging stations promote reduced emissions and better air quality, they will also improve mobility and safety for the ever-increasing number of Floridians that drive electric cars. I look forward to building on this investment and continuing our work to improve Florida’s environment and transportation infrastructure.” Continue reading →

On July 16, 2020, in News Releases, by Staff

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced $900,000 in funding for infrastructure projects in two rural communities in Northeast Florida. Administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) provides funding to local governments for infrastructure projects in rural communities to encourage job creation and business investment and to strengthen and diversify rural economies.

“Rural communities are vital to the development and growth of Florida’s economy and I’m committed to helping them thrive,” said Governor DeSantis. “Infrastructure improvements made available through the Rural Infrastructure Fund will help rural communities be able to attract businesses and provide more resilient infrastructure for the future of their local economy.”

The rural communities receiving funds include:

Columbia County – ($500,000) to assist in funding the construction of a natural gas main loop that will serve existing and new businesses along the Bell Road Corridor. This project will provide necessary infrastructure to the existing distribution center and allow for expansion of the transportation logistics industry in this vital development area. The project is expected to attract more than $1 million in capital investment in Columbia County and create an estimated 43 new jobs.

Town of White Springs – ($400,000) to help fund construction, engineering and inspection services to improve sewer system transmission capabilities and correct issues that caused overflows during Hurricane Irma to the Town of White Spring’s more than 40-year-old core sewer system.

For more information, visit FloridaJobs.org/RIF.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today issued a Consumer Alert to urge victims of several tech support scams to claim millions of dollars made available for restitution. The multimillion dollar claims process currently underway is the result of action taken by the Florida Attorney General’s Office to shut down several companies operating tech support scams. The deadline to file a claim is August 30. Thousands are eligible, but so far, only hundreds have successfully filed claims.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Our Consumer Protection Division has worked hard to secure restitution for victims of tech support scams and they continue to diligently reach out to eligible consumers. We need your help to make sure victims know restitution is still available. If you or someone you know was the victim of a tech support scam, please file a claim before the August 30 deadline.”

For more information on the claims process, visit FloridaAGReimbursement.com. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Federal Trade Commission announced more than $16 million is now being distributed to victims of a debt relief scam. The scam targeted thousands of consumers facing financial difficulty in Florida and across the nation. The millions in restitution culminates from a joint lawsuit brought by Attorney General Moody’s Consumer Protection Division and the FTC against a group of defendants known as Helping America Group for allegedly convincing victims to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars a month by falsely promising to pay, settle or obtain dismissal of debts and improve payors’ credit scores. Instead, victims discovered debts unpaid, accounts in default and credit scores severely damaged—some were sued by creditors, and others were forced into bankruptcy.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “It infuriates me that anyone would take advantage of people trying to pay off their debts and improve their financial situations. Thankfully, our office, working together with the FTC, has now recovered millions to be returned to the victims of this appalling scam.”

More than 27,000 refund checks will be sent to victims of the scam. Additional money is expected to be collected in this case, and a second round of checks will be planned once additional money is secured.

Recipients should deposit or cash their checks within 90 days. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check. If recipients have questions about the refunds, they should contact the FTC’s refund administrator, JND Legal Administration, at 1(833) 928-2567. Refund data can also be viewed on the FTC’s interactive dashboards for refund data.

Consumers suspicious of a scam or deceptive behavior can report it to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or file a complaint online at MyFloridaLegal.com.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with the assistance of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, today arrested a Medicaid provider on charges related to $50,000 in fraud. The arrest follows an MFCU investigation that revealed Rodney Burt, 57, billed the Florida Medicaid Program for services not rendered from May 2016 through November 2019.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Participation in Florida’s Medicaid Program is increasing during this health crisis, and we will do everything in our power to protect taxpayer funds from fraud. That is why my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit attorneys and investigators aggressively chase down leads and uncover abuses in this taxpayer funded health care program to ensure those who would aim to rip off taxpayers are stopped and brought to justice.”

Additionally, the investigation uncovered that Burt, owner of No Place Like Home, a Home and Community Based Service Provider, assigned inaccurate billing codes to claims submitted to the Florida Medicaid Program in order to increase reimbursements—a fraudulent billing practice known as upcoding.

To view the Probable Cause Affidavit, go to www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases
Burt is charged with one count of Medicaid provider fraud $50,000 or more, a first-degree felony. If convicted, Burt faces up to 30 years in prison and more than $300,000 in fines and restitution.

The Attorney General’s MFCU will prosecute the case through an agreement with the State Attorney’s Office in the Second Judicial Circuit.

“These are our parents, grandparents of our children, friends and neighbors, who are too valuable to risk losing to a virus that can be prevented if precautions are taken,” said Lander. “Younger adults are becoming infected with the virus in our community and passing it on to older adults they contact at home, at work, at the store, or elsewhere in the community.”

Older adults must take steps to protect themselves from COVID-19

–       Wash your hands often

–       Avoid crowds and large gatherings, especially in venues with poor ventilation.

–       Don’t shake hands with people.

–       Keep at least six feet between you and other people.

–       Stay away from people who may be sick.

–       Wear cloth face coverings in public places.

–       Try shopping during off-hours—later on weeknights or earlier on weekends—when crowds at stores are lower.

–       Avoid touching “high-touch” surfaces: elevator buttons, door handles, handrails, etc.

–       Find out if family or friends have been sick in the past two weeks BEFORE they visit. If they have been sick, reschedule at least two weeks out.

–       If you depend on regular medical treatment like dialysis, wound care, etc., talk to your health care provider about special arrangements.

–       Create a contact list of family, friends, neighbors, health care providers, community assistance programs and drivers. Make sure phone numbers are up to date.

–       Stay in touch with the people on your list and let them know you may need them for help if you become sick.

Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is issuing a Consumer Alert to warn Floridians about a new scam targeting seniors with offers of fake COVID-19 grants. The Florida Attorney General’s Office is receiving reports from seniors offered thousands of dollars in federal grant money to stay isolated at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Scammers are contacting seniors via Facebook Messenger, email and text message to offer these sham grants and request upfront payment as insurance for the expedited delivery of grant money.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “This scam appears to involve an international criminal organization utilizing a multifaceted communications plan to deceive seniors. These criminals are hacking Facebook accounts to send messages to targets from a friend’s profile—creating the illusion that the grant program is being promoted by an acquaintance. Once contact is made, the criminals request personal information, bank account numbers and insurance payments purportedly to help ensure the safe delivery of thousands of dollars in federal grant money, and of course, the money is never sent.

“Sadly, we have uncovered evidence that some are falling for this scam. Please know that the federal government is not contacting seniors and offering them grant money to stay home and stop the spread of COVID-19. We are actively working with law enforcement to investigate and stop this scam. You can help us by reporting suspicious messages to our office.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today issued a Consumer Alert warning students at Florida colleges and universities of an emerging work-from-home employment scam. Scammers are targeting students via emails that appear to be sent from a college or university advertising fictitious work-from-home employment opportunities. The scammers obtain personal information from the student while posing as a university representative. Savvy scammers convince students to cash counterfeit checks and send them the money.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “During the COVID-19 crisis and resulting economic downturn, Floridians are looking for work, and it is unconscionable that scammers are exploiting these times of uncertainty to prey on our college students. Students who fall victim to this scam could face serious repercussions to their financial stability and credit record. I am urging all students currently enrolled at Florida colleges and universities to take extra precaution when receiving online job offers.” Continue reading →