Watchdog Report Vol.15 No.29 November 9, 2010 EST. 05.05.00 – I go when you cannot – Celebrating 15 Years
CONTENTS
Argus Report: Curbello going head to head with Garcia prevails in low turnout race for District 26 in Congress, as GOP picks up control of U.S. Senate and Keeps House
Florida: Its over Gov. Scott prevails over Crist after unleashing $13 million last minute negative political ad blitz paid with his own money, Democrats asking what do they have to do to win and get voters out in odd election years?
Miami-Dade County: Prickly PA Garcia prevails over termed limited Eddy Gonzalez in countywide race, will office continue to be more customer service oriented?
Miami-Dade County Public Schools: MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNITED TEACHERS OF DADE REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
Public Health Trust: Sen. Garcia wants the M-D County Commission to rise up and support Medicaid expansion in Florida that could cost Jackson millions in reduced federal LIP payments that would go to other states, he said and would generate some $9 billion in new federal funding
City of Miami: Suarez should do the public a favor and televise Charter Review Committee meetings, as he pushes for strong mayor form of City government
City of Miami Beach: Mayor Levine fires up packed Convention Center Hall in State of the City Address, will be running again in November
City of Hialeah: TWO FLORIDA MEN ADMIT PARTICIPATING IN MULTIMILLION DRUG THEFT FROM ELI LILLY WAREHOUSE IN ENFIELD
City of Coral Gables: The City of Coral Gables Appoints Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark New City Manager
Broward County: Deerfield Beach Mayor Jean Robb runs afoul of Broward Inspector General for a variety of issues and misuse of his office for friends OIG Final Report Re: Misconduct by Deerfield Beach Mayor Jean Robb, November
Palm Beach County: Palm Beach County Residents Convicted for Sex Trafficking of Minors
Community Events: Ride for Lotus House – Dolphin Cycling Challenge V Sponsor, ride, run, walk, donate or volunteer to fight the Plague of our generation: February 7-8, — Kristi House 15th Gala Event – Black archives event — The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County and the University Of Miami Present The Regional Premiere Of Peter and the Starcatcher Arsht Center production- Margulies Warehouse opens in Oct. Lotus House benefits, public students enter free
Editorials: No one should be surprised that at the City of Miami it is a pay to play environment, there is a long history of payoffs of favors on the commission over the years since the 1990s
Letters: — Reader wishes me a speedy recovery from stroke
Sponsors – Publisher’s mission statement & Subscription information is at the bottom of this issue
>>> Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics will not take an interest in you. –Pericles (430 B.C.)
>>> If you wish to be deleted, just e-mail me with that message.
>>> The Watchdog Report publisher would like to thank the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation www.knightfoundation.org for funding by the Knight Foundation with technical support from the Knight Center www.knightfoundation.org to maintain my webpage. The Watchdog Report webpage is free, has no pops-up and is just the news in a mainstream reporting manner.
>>>> I was on WLRN/NPR 91.3 FM on Topical Currents Monday to discuss the upcoming election and to hear the show go to … http://wlrn.org/post/2014-florida-midterm-election-preview
>>> The Watchdog Report publisher hopes you will consider supporting me allowing me to stay out in the field so that I can keep at this and report back how your billions of public dollars in government is being spent on a weekly basis. And how to do that is at the end of the WDR. Thank You.
>>> On Veterans Day may each of us reflect on what these brave and honorable people have contributed to our country and our Freedom we each enjoy every day.
ARGUS REPORT – Heard, Seen on the Street
>>> Curbello going head to head with Garcia prevails in low turnout race for District 26 in Congress, as GOP picks up control of U.S. Senate and Keeps House
School Board Member Carlos Curbello sailed to victory Tuesday in his final race for the Congressional District 26 seat that goes from West Dade to Key West and the race was considered a swing district by the GOP and Democrats. And in a very nasty race he defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Miami who served one term and took over the seat held by controversial GOP Congressman David Riviera, R-Miami who lost the seat in 2012 and Garcia prevailed but the race was bedeviled with controversy and an aide served jail time. Further outside money from both parties supporters poured into the race allowing both candidate’s to saturate the airways up to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday when they finally ended thankfully.
Curbello a new young GOP face with a touch of Tea Party, and Libertarian thinking is expected to fit into the Republican controlled House and Curbello a lobbyist got support from the Republican Diaz-Balart Brothers, Lincoln and Mario and long serving U.S. Rep Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami also backed the man with two young daughters and had been an aide to U.S. Sen. George Lemieux, R-Fla. Gov. Rick Scott will pick his replacement on the school board after Curbello is sworn into Congress in early January. And both Garcia and Curbello are Belen Jesuit Prep school alumni.
 Garcia |
 Curbello |
 M. Diaz Balart |
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 Ros-Lehtinen |
>>>>Web page announcement: The Knight Foundation is looking for big ideas on how to make communities better and for more on the program go to Knight Cities Challenge 2014-15 Initial Application – Hide Guidelines Ends on 11/14/2014 what’s your best idea to make cities more successful? The Knight Cities Challenge seeks new ideas from innovators – activists, designers, and artists, planning professionals, hackers, architects, city officials, companies, economic opportunity, and creating a culture of civic engagement.
The rules are simple: A submission may come from anywhere but the project must take place in or benefit one or more of 26 Knight Communities. Your idea should focus on one or all of three key drivers of city success: attracting and retaining talent, expanding economic opportunity, and creating a culture of civic engagement. Apply today! Read more at the Knight Cities Challenge homepage and in the FAQ. If you would like to submit a proposal for the Knight Cities Challenge please review our Terms of Use and privacy Policy. Submit
>>> P5+1 Must Recognize That Republican Congress Will Not Accept Iran Nuclear Deal That Threatens Our National Security, Says Ros-Lehtinen
“If Iran continues to stall and balk on its enrichment program, the P5+1 needs to recognize Iran isn’t serious about giving up its nuclear weapons pursuit and should have the courage to walk away from the negotiations and work with the U.S. on implementing even tougher sanctions that will ultimately compel the regime to abandon its pursuit of the bomb.”
Press release: U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement regarding the P5+1 meeting in Vienna. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“As the P5+1 representatives meet today in Vienna to discuss the looming deadline for the Iran nuclear negotiations, it is imperative that they recognize that a Republican controlled Congress will not accept a weak deal that threatens U.S. national security interests. As the author of the toughest set of Iran sanctions currently codified into U.S. law, my objective has always been, and will continue to be, Iran’s complete cessation of uranium enrichment and the dismantlement of its nuclear weapons program infrastructure, and that includes its ballistic missile program. If Iran continues to stall and balk on its enrichment program, the P5+1 needs to recognize Iran isn’t serious about giving up its nuclear weapons pursuit and should have the courage to walk away from the negotiations and work with the U.S. on implementing even tougher sanctions that will ultimately compel the regime to abandon its pursuit of the bomb.”
>>> Zogby press release: Victory for the GOP: It’s the President, Stupid By: John Zogby Forbes.com Contributor It is now almost midnight on election night and all the results are not in. The GOP has taken control of the Senate, winning seven Democratic seats so far (West Virginia, Arkansas, Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, North Carolina and Iowa). The party held on to Kentucky and Kansas. In Louisiana, Mary Landrieu is on the ropes but she has a history of winning runoffs, so we will hold judgment. Please click on the link below to view the full release:
http://zogbyanalytics.com/news/518-victory-for-the-gop-it-s-the-president-stupid
FLORIDA
>>> Its over Gov. Scott prevails over Crist after unleashing $13 million last minute negative political ad blitz paid with his own money, Democrats asking what do they have to do to win and get voters out in odd election years?
While Democrats pinned their hopes on former gov. Charlie Crist and his political conversions over the years, however because of weak turnout of its parties voters incumbent Gov. Rick Scott squeaked to victory winning by some 100,000 votes to retain the governor’s mansion, after unleashing at the last minute some $13 million in campaign ads and he raised some $100 million for the campaign to Crist’s some $40 million and the loss has Democrats shaking their heads regarding what does it take to get the party’s voters out to the polls and Florida voters are hoping Scott and the GOP controlled Legislature don’t go rogue when it comes to legislative issues and some controversial social issues that have divided voters over the years. However, the GOP has Super Majorities in the House and Senate and could push they’re on legislative agenda and Scott’s influence is likely to decline after his first new year back in office since he is termed but the man could prove critical in the 20016 presidential election where a much higher voter turnout is historically seen.
 Crist |
 Scott |
 Wyllie |
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article2671161.html
On the well-being of our children. Visit The Children’s Movement website to read their stories and share your own. >>> I find it unacceptable, as all of us should, that at least a half-million children in Florida – all citizens — have no health insurance. How could this be in our beloved country that seeks to be a beacon to the world? Health insurance for all children is one of the five major planks of The Children’s Movement. With the support of Florida Covering Kids and Families, The Children’s Movement is working with dozens of local partners to help build a meaningful signing-up initiative in more than a dozen Florida communities. Already we have: Completed 18 KidCare trainings around the state. Signed up, trained and deployed more than a hundred volunteers. Begun to build a growing collaboration between local school districts and KidCare outreach coalitions. It’s a good start, but only the start. If you’d like to become a volunteer, just click here. Another way to help is to make a contribution – of any size – to help support this work. It is easy. Just click here. A real movement isn’t possible without your helping in some meaningful way. Dave Lawrence, Jr., Chair The Children’s Movement. >>> Update: Two encouraging meetings… The first, a visit from the Governor to the Rainbow Intergenerational Child Care center in Little Havana where he discussed his early learning priorities. That includes his support for “Help Me Grow,” a statewide parent resource system where parents would be able — via phone and online — to get answers to questions about their child’s development and connected with the proper resources. The second, a meeting with future House Speaker, Rep. Jose Oliva from Hialeah. He’s a father of three, a real reader of history and student of policy, and committed to better understanding early learning. Dave Lawrence, Chair The Children’s Movement.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
>>>> Prickly PA Garcia prevails over termed limited Eddy Gonzalez in countywide race, will office continue to be more customer service oriented?
Pedro Garcia Miami-Dade’s first Property Appraiser prevailed on Tuesday at the polls when he dispatched challenger Eddy Gonzalez, a former termed out state legislator but with no real estate experience and Garcia was beaten in a bruising battle back in 2010 when he was beaten by termed out state representative Juan Carlos Cantera now the Florida Lt. Gov., who beat him charging that Garcia was soft on Homestead Exemption Fraud and not interested in customer service and Cantera did a great job making the obscure office more friendly to the public and it is unknown if Garcia will continue that tradition. Though he has a prickly personality and was a sore loser years ago and people are wondering if he will be firing his inherited county staff in the office and Garcia held court on Friday with a gaggle of lobbyist while having lunch at a Tony Gables Restaurant, including County Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s son JC a prominent lobbyist. And it remains to be seen if he learned anything after being in the political wilderness though he expressed to the media that he might consider running for another countywide office in the future and since he is 74, his ambitions are still there but people are holding their breath re what attitude Garcia will be bringing to the post.
 Suarez |
 Gimenez |
 Garcia |
What about the swearing in of new Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava on Nov. 18th?
The newly elected commissioner Daniella Levine Cava asked Commission Chair Rebeca Sosa last week if she could change the date for her swearing in ceremony (to Nov. 18) and when the commission votes on its new chair to Nov. 24 and the body agreed to the date change and while a motion was her first victory on the 13 member commission. Further, Levine Cava elected to the District 8 seat on the dais has been having Sunshine Meetings with her fellow commissioners to hear their views on a variety of matters and is showing she is doing her homework prior to sitting on the body after she defeated incumbent Commissioner Lynda Bell in a tough well financed commission race, that also had the support of Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
| GMCVB press release: Miami-Dade County reports record September 2014 collections for the 2% Tourist Development Tax collected from hotels in Miami-Dade (excluding Miami Beach, Bal Harbour and Surfside), which increased 6.6% compared to the same time in 2013. The 3% Convention Development Tax (CDT) was also a record, increasing 5.9% compared to the same time in 2013. The 2% Food & Beverage Tax collections were also a record for Greater Miami (excluding Miami Beach, Bal Harbour and Surfside), increasing 3.2% compared to the same time in 2013. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
>>>> MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNITED TEACHERS OF DADE REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) and United Teachers of Dade (UTD) reached a tentative agreement today on contract negotiations for over 21,000 teacher’s Press release: and 4,600 support and clerical personnel. “Despite a significant tax collection shortfall that undermines the promise of equity funding for Miami-Dade’s children, we were able to negotiate a contract that honors the teaching profession and advances the salary scale for all teachers,” said Miami-Dade Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho. The tentative agreement represents a total compensation increase of 4.3 percent, inclusive of a 2 percent prorated salary increase, a one percent prorated
This tentative agreement is subject to ratification by the UTD membership and approval by the School Board of Miami-Dade County.at along with Florida Power and Light the District has saved millions through conservation. One-time stipend and a 1.3 percent healthcare cost containment.
The District and the union also came to agreement regarding time and adjustments to the schedules of nursing mothers to allow them to provide for their children. “This is a
A $14 million health benefit increase, assumed by the School Board during an era of dramatic escalation of health care costs, reduces the potential burden to School Board employees by as much as 1.3 percent. Instructional support personnel paraprofessionals, security monitors, and UTD office personnel) will and educational support personnel is $40.9 million. Momentous day for teachers in Miami-Dade,” said Carvalho. “The combination of compensation increases and a superior benefits package will reward those who have also receive a two percent salary increase plus a one-time supplement of one percent. The total cost of this salary and benefits proposal for both teachers. The greatest impact on the future of our students: our teachers and support personnel.”
>>>> What did School Board member Regalado say to the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce on undocumented school children generally housed in Boys Town in West Dade?
School Board Member Raquel Regalado spoke to the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday and she noted FP&L, and their community liaison Irene White through energy conservation measures and Solar Panels has saved the District significant money. Regalado the prime public spokesperson against the $425 million Bond for a new Civil Courthouse, that failed, is considered a possible County Mayor candidate and reducing power consumption for a District with 400 schools is a big deal, “and any energy savings were returned back to the schools,” and students see the impact “a cloudy day” has on power generation and these programs are being instituted “in four counties, “said White.
Regalado changing the subject talked about the tragedy of undocumented residents and children are having locally when these “undocumented students,” present to the school District. She is also considered a candidate for even the City of Miami when her father Tomas retires as the city mayor in the coming years or sooner. Regalado and FPL spokeswoman Irene White said FP&L is “heavily invested in education and STEM,” and that includes “Solar Energy Education,” she said. She noted there are a “100 public schools” and not for profits in Dade with “Solar Panel Arrays,” And 11 schools have Solar Panel Kits “including Miami Jackson High” and students are able in real time to monitor the affect the panel arrays have, White noted.
However Regalado said, “When it comes to undocumented students they are housed in “Boys Town” in West Dade she told the luncheon attendees and the facilities “look like adult learning centers. She thought the “federal government was doing good job,” and these undocumented students are usually housed there for some “30 days” before a relative might get them and given the challenge “the federal government is doing a good job,” she thought. But she also noted another challenge with these kids was, “many kids were sexually abused and the abuse was done by the coyotes [that ferry the children across multiple borders many times,]” she noted. And because the public District provides “education that is not language specific,” that is not the case in many cities and counties around Florida where these children are presenting and these Districts do not have the tradition of teaching in so many different languages given the communities demographics and long history of dealing with multilingual education that may not exist in other counties she said.
Regalado
PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST
>>>> Sen. Garcia wants the M-D County Commission to rise up and support Medicaid expansion in Florida that could cost Jackson millions in reduced federal LIP payments that would go to other states, he said and would generate some $9 billion in new federal funding
State Sen. Rene Garcia, R- Hialeah (Net Worth $65,000 in 2014) and to review his financial disclosure go to http://public.ethics.state.fl.us/Forms/2013/43980-Form6.pdf after waiting hours at the board of county commission meeting Wednesday got to the podium and told the 13 commissioners about a “real game changer” that could cost Jackson Health System millions and needs to be changed and he urged commissioners to demand the state legislature expand the state Medicaid program and the federal dollars it will bring to the state “some $9 billion in wages” and employment, “that will go elsewhere” if the state does not buy into this policy that has been blocked in the past and recently elected Gov. Rick Scott has been against this expansion for some “220,000 [Floridians] entitled that will get healthcare,” he said. Garcia a healthcare maven in the County’s Dade Delegation noted that JHS kicks in some $300 to $400 million in federal matching funds to the state known as the Lower Income Pool (LIP) a federal program that draws down millions in federal funding to be divided up among public hospitals and others to compensate for the cost of charity care they give around Florida. Garcia said. But he said, “Jackson could lose some $500 million in federal funding,” if Medicaid is not expanded he said because “the Feds want to end the Lower Income Pool, “program he said. And if the state does not participate “this federal money will go elsewhere around the country,” he suggested and it is sorely needed in South Florida he insisted to local commissioners.
The Board of County Commissioners is being asked to approve Wednesday an ordinance “creating the Jackson Health System Capital Expedite Program, authorizing the Public Health Trust to advertise and award contracts for professional services and construction and design-build services.” And the success of the capital program is falling squarely on PHT CEO and President Carlos Migoya and the Watchdog Report wishes him the best of luck while he shepherds the needed upgrades while also running a full service academic hospital, no easy task to do I am being told but is desperately needed and why the community approved the issuance of $830 million in GOB bonds last year and passed overwhelmingly by voters and includes upgrades in diagnostic and IT systems for the health trust to be competitive in the new changing world of healthcare. And the County Commission approved this legislation Wednesday.
CITY OF MIAMI
>>>> Miami Commissioner Suarez should do the public a favor and televise Charter Review Committee meetings, as he pushes for strong mayor form of City government
The members of the City of Miami Charter Review Committee should ask that they’re meetings be televised for the voters of Miami need to be able to listen and see what these people are suggesting for the Charter is the heart and soul of the City and how it is governed and Commissioner Francis Suarez is arguing Miami needs a strong mayor form of government like Miami-Dade County where Carlos Gimenez is the mayor and Suarez’s father Xavier will probable run for the office having been the mayor of Miami himself and the elder man loves the limelight and media attention. Further in 1999 when a similar Charter Review Committee was formed to essentially write specific language to force a previous mayor to run again that group back then was chaired by Miami Commissioner Willy Gort and included former Commissioner Victor de Yurre. And it took the Watchdog Report back then to get the meetings televised and the Miami residents deserve this benefit for they will not be attending meetings in a commissioner’s conference room and Suarez the younger constantly talks about transparency in government and he should suggest to the City’s Media person Angel Zayon (who had a bankers luncheon on Friday with four women) and clearly has the time to get this done rather than endless shows on the city’s television station that
Promote the five commissioners and what Supermen they are and these shows are now including commissioner’s wives for a little bit of free political advertising. Below is the next Charter Review meeting announcement
| Charter Review and form Committee Meeting | |
| Department: | PUBLIC MEETINGS |
| Contact: | Vanessa Acosta |
| Contact Phone: | |
| Location: | Miami City Hall-Commission Chambers; 3500 Pan American Drive; Miami; |
| When: | 11/24/2014 to 11/24/2014 |
| Hours: | 5:00 PM to |
| Details: | Liaison: Vanessa I. Acosta (305) 416-1176 |
>>> Press release: Fitch Ratings, a global credit rating agency and one of a handful of Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, has upgraded the credit rating on various City of Miami general obligation bonds two levels, from ‘A-‘ to ‘A+’.
The rating agency also upgraded its ratings of the City’s special obligation revenue bonds, special obligation, non-ad valorem, and limited tax debt bonds. “We are gratified that Fitch has recognized the strong efforts that the City has made to become financially stable,” said Mayor Tomas Regalado. “They specifically recognized the difficult decisions that City Commissioners made in prior years when financial urgency was declared. This is a step in a string of financial victories that the City has achieved recently.”
“I want to thank the Commission and the Administration for the hard work and dedication to the course that we have set. Miami is back! We only need to continue to manage this recovery with disciplined,” continued Mayor Regalado. Among the reasons given by Fitch Ratings for the improved ratings are: improved financial discipline and strength, sound economic fundamentals, strong operating results, and improved tax base conditions. Fitch further affirmed its expectation for a continued stable financial outlook.
Some concerns noted in the report were: low pension funding ratios, high debt metrics, turnover in key management and finance positions, and various legal challenges. “The ratings upgrade reflects our assessment of the city’s strengthened financial position with signals that this will continue into the future,” stated Fitch Senior Director Michael Rinaldi.
 Suarez |
 Sarnoff |
>>>> Defendant Convicted in Identity Theft Tax Fraud Scheme Involving Medical Patients’ Personal Identifying Information
Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Paula Reid, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office, announce that defendant Keno Augustin, 36, of Miami, was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(b). Sentencing is scheduled for January 15, 2015. At sentencing, Augustin faces up to five years in prison. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in January 2012, an individual recruited into the scheme searched their employer’s database and accessed the names and Social Security numbers (personal identity information or PII) of individual medical patients. This employee then provided a list of individuals’ PII in exchange for a cash payment made by defendant Augustin. Augustin and his co-conspirators then caused false and fraudulent tax returns seeking refunds to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service using the PII that the conspirators had so obtained.
Defendant Barnard (13-20684-CR-COOKE), who was also involved in this conspiracy, was sentenced on July 23, 2014 to 36 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $57,000. Barnard pled guilty to one count of possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1029(a)(3) and 2, and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1).
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI and the USSS. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James V. Hayes and Gera Peoples.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
>>>> Owner and Administrator of Miami Home Health Companies Pleads Guilty For Role in $74 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme
Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Leslie R. Caldwell, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division Department of Justice, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office and Ryan Lynch, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Office of Investigations Miami announced that Elsa Ruiz, 45, of Miami pled guilty yesterday, for her participation in a $74 million Medicare fraud scheme, before U.S. District Judge Marcia G. Cooke to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Her sentencing is scheduled for October 8, 2014.
According to court documents, Ruiz was an owner of Professional Home Care Solutions Inc. (Professional Home Care) and an administrator of LTC Professional Consultants Inc. (LTC), Miami home health care agencies that purported to provide home health and therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries. Ruiz and her co-conspirators operated LTC and Professional Home Care for the purpose of billing the Medicare program for, among other things, expensive physical therapy and home health care services that were not medically necessary and/or were not provided.
Also according to court documents, Ruiz ran and oversaw the schemes operating out of LTC and Professional Home Care. Ruiz and co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes to patient recruiters, who provided patients to LTC and Professional Home Care, as well as prescriptions, plans of care (POCs) and certifications for medically unnecessary therapy and home health services for Medicare beneficiaries. Ruiz and her co-conspirators used these prescriptions, POCs and medical certifications to fraudulently bill the Medicare program for unnecessary home health care and therapy services.
From approximately January 2006 to June 2012, LTC and Professional Home Care submitted approximately $74 million in claims for home health care services that were not medically necessary and/or not provided, and Medicare paid approximately $45 million on those claims.
Mr. Ferrer commended the outstanding investigative efforts of the FBI and HHS-OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Chief Joseph S. Beemsterboer of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged nearly 1,900 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $6 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers. To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to: www.stopmedicarefraud.gov. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
CITY OF HIALEAH
>>>> TWO FLORIDA MEN ADMIT PARTICIPATING IN MULTIMILLION DRUG THEFT FROM ELI LILLY WAREHOUSE IN ENFIELD
Press release: The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that two Florida residents pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to charges related to their participation in the theft of pharmaceuticals from an Eli Lilly Company warehouse and storage facility in Enfield, Conn. YOSMANY NUNEZ, also known as “El Gatos,” 42, of Southwest Ranches, Fla., ALEXANDER MARQUEZ, 41, of Hialeah, Fla., each pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of stolen property.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in early 2010, NUNEZ, MARQUEZ, Maury Villa, Amid Villa and another individual planned to steal pharmaceuticals from the Eli Lilly Company warehouse and storage facility in Enfield. The investigation revealed that, prior to the theft, NUNEZ and Maury Villa traveled from the Miami area to Connecticut to gather information about the warehouse facility and the surrounding area. Shortly before the theft, Amid Villa and another individual traveled to Flushing, N.Y., where they purchased tools needed to break into the warehouse facility, and then traveled to Connecticut. In the evening of March 13, 2010, individuals involved in the theft dropped off a ladder in the rear parking lot of the warehouse facility and left. That same night, MARQUEZ drove a tractor trailer to the facility. Thereafter, Amid Villa and Maury Villa carried the ladder to the building, checked for security in the front area, climbed onto the roof, used tools to cut a hole in the facility roof, dropped down into the facility and disabled the alarm system. Maury Villa, Amid Villa and NUNEZ then loaded more than 40 pallets of pharmaceuticals into the tractor trailer, which had been backed up to the loading dock of the warehouse.
The pallets of pharmaceuticals included thousands of boxes Zyprexa, Cymbalta, Prozac, Gemstar and other medicines, valued between $50 and $100 million.
The individuals who participated in the theft split up in Connecticut. MARQUEZ then drove the tractor trailer to Florida, where he subsequently reunited with Amaury Villa, Amed Villa and NUNEZ so the pharmaceuticals could be transferred from the tractor trailer into self-storage units in the Miami area. On October 14, 2011, law enforcement authorities searched a storage facility in Florida and recovered pharmaceuticals that had been stolen from the Enfield warehouse. NUNEZ and MARQUEZ, who are both citizens of Cuba, were arrested on April 17, 2014. NUNEZ is detained and Marquez is released on a $200,000 bond. They are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arteron in February 2015, at which time each faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.Amaury Villa and Amed Villa have also pleaded guilty and await sentencing. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Enfield Police Department, with the assistance of several other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that have been investigating large-scale thefts of pharmaceuticals and other products. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anastasia E. King and Douglas P. Morabito.
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
>>> Mayor Levine fires up packed Convention Center Hall in State of the City Address, will be running again in November
To a packed Miami Beach Convention Center hall room filled with county dignitaries Mayor Phillip Levine gave his first State of the City Address and it was with a upbeat tone and about getting the job done when it came to the challenge’s facing the city about to Celebrate its one hundredth birthday in a few months and Levine told the Watchdog Report that he plans to run again in November since the mayor’s term is only two years before they face the electorate again and below is a video of the speech.
| Dear Friends and Neighbors:
Thank you to those who were able to attend yesterday’s State of the City Annual Address. For those of you who couldn’t attend please click here to watch the speech in its entirety, which covers everything from flooding and transportation to tourism and jobs. A big thank you to the City, its employees and its residents for “pulling together” to up the city’s game. “The time to act is now!” 
**We encourage you to forward this email to your email contact list so that others can opt to receive future notifications. Also, please visit our Facebook page, Mayor Philip Levine, for real time information from our office.** |
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CITY OF CORAL GABLES
Its over the City Beautiful finally has found a new manager to run the tony city after an earlier misfire and the selected applicant withdrew his name after some controversy surfaced about past financial issues. The Commission on Friday selected a former City employee before she went to the much larger City of Hollywood.
>>>> The City of Coral Gables Appoints Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark New City Manager Posted Date:
From Gables webpage: Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark has been selected as the next City Manager of the City of Coral Gables. The City Commission decision was made at a special meeting held today at City Hall. Ms. Swanson-Rivenbark has been the City of Hollywood Florida’s City Manager (Florida’s 12th largest municipality) since 2012. She has supervised 1,300 full-time and 200 part-time employees and overseen a combined budget of $462 million. Ms. Swanson-Rivenbark originally joined the City of Hollywood in 2009 as Assistant City Manager. Previously, she was the Development Director for the City of Coral Gables. She holds a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University. Ms. Swanson-Rivenbark is a credentialed City Manager (ICMA-CM), a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) with the International Economic Development Council. The City Commission seeks to leverage Ms. Swanson-Rivenbark’s exceptional background and wealth of experience to push Coral Gables forward. “We believe that Cathy’s strengths in the area of public-private partnerships, budget and finance, and economic development are well suited to provide the City with the leadership needed as we move into the future,” said Mayor Jim Cason.
Bud Park, a retired search firm executive was contracted to conduct the search.
For additional information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs.
BROWARD COUNTY
Deerfield Beach Mayor Jean Robb runs afoul of Broward Inspector General for a variety of issues and misuse of his office for friends OIG Final Report Re: Misconduct by Deerfield Beach Mayor Jean Robb, November 7, 2014, OIG 14-017 view PDF www.browardig.org
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Palm Beach County Residents Convicted for Sex Trafficking of Minors
Press release: Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce that a federal jury in West Palm Beach returned guilty verdicts on all counts against Dontavious M. Blake, 32, and Tara Jo Moore, 26, both of Palm Beach County. This case stemmed from an investigation into the production of child pornography. During the investigation, a juvenile victim revealed that she had engaged in prostitution, at the age of 15, beginning in August of 2011 and continuing until December 2011. She had approximately 10 – 15 regular clients and worked in hotels in the Palm Beach County area. After further investigation, a second juvenile victim was identified and revealed that she had also engaged in prostitution, at the age of 16, beginning in July 2011 and continuing through October 2012. They worked for a pimp who they identified as Blake and his girlfriend Moore. Blake would post online escort advertisements with photographs of the minors on Backpage.com, which postings included a telephone number that belonged to him. Moore would answer the calls from the clients and negotiate a price for prostitution services and schedule a “date.” Once the negotiated price had been agreed upon, Blake would contact the minors and drive them to the hotel or location for the “date.” At the conclusion of the date, the minor would pay a portion of the proceeds to Blake including payment for a portion of the hotel room.
Blake and Moore were each found guilty of two counts sex trafficking of children and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591 and 594. Sentencing is set for January 23, 2014. Blake and Moore face a mandatory minimum statutory sentence of ten years imprisonment and maximum statutory sentence of life in prison on the sex trafficking of children counts. Blake and Moore face a statutory sentence of life in prison on the conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of children.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida is calling visual artists in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties to submit artwork to interpret A Man Among the Peoples, that will coincide with an exhibition on the life, art and legacy of late Overtown artist, Purvis Young. Selected artwork will be displayed in the lobby of The Historic Lyric Theater as part of “Soul Basel Overtown: A celebration of Art, Music and Culture in Colored Town”.
This an art festival taking place from December 3 – 7, 2014 in Miami’s Historic Overtown District. We encourage imaginative expression in the interpretation of the theme. This project is designed to highlight the work of South Florida artists among others that will be displayed during Art Basel weekend. In addition to the public, museum professionals and art critics are invited to attend the festival. Entries will be accepted via email. Deadline to apply is Monday, November 17, 2014.To enter or for more information, please contact Adia McKenzie at amckenzie@theblackarchives.org or 786-708-4
>>> About The Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc.:
The Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc is a non-profit organization founded in 1977 by Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Ph.D. With a mission to not only preserve the documentary and photographic history of black South Florida, but also to enrich the present and protect the future through the revitalization Miami’s former black business and entertainment district, Overtown. The Black Archives and its programming are supported by the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, Miami-Dade County, The Knight Foundation, Coca-Cola, Macy’s, The Design Group Miami & Drummer Boy Sound. For more information on The Black Archives of South Florida visit www.theblackarchives.org.
Editorial
>>>> No one should be surprised that at the City of Miami it is a pay to play environment, there is a long history of payoffs of favors on the commission over the years since the 1990s Anyone in South Florida that does not believe this is a pay to play community does not watch they’re governments in action for essentially the same lobbyists represent the person looking for some concessions or money and at the City of Miami it has become institutionalized and for example when the Ritz Carleton in the Grove was being built and an error created a need to add two more stories to the building. Then Miami Commissioner J.L. Plummer told the organization’s people to just donate $450,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Miami and there changes sailed through the commission twice but at this price, and variations of this continue with elected leaders asking for people to donate to their Foundation but this is still a corrosive and a terrible activity and should be banned but has become addictive to city commissioners and why when a couple of them met to discuss Mike Fernandez’s idea of a Flag of Gratitude. When it was over, I knew a couple of commissioners would try to extract something from the man since he is a billionaire and that was very obvious at the public Sunshine meeting (That was recorded by the Clerk’s office and myself) that I attended in Commissioner Francis Suarez’s office that included Commissioner Mark Sarnoff and how they would get concessions from Fernandez was not discussed but they were almost salivating at the time and I joked with Fernandez later that he should wait and see what they want if his project was going to go through because that is the drill at Miami, someone has to pay if you want to play in this commission sandbox and it is not pleasant but is how things get done in Miami and Commissioner’s seem addicted to keeping this style of governance going. LETTERS
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CITY OF CORAL GABLES www.citybeautiful.net THE STATE OF FLORIDA www.myflorida.gov MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION; OFFICE OF THE CHAIR www.officeofthechair.com MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD www.dadeschoolsnews.net CITY OF MIAMI BEACH www.miamibeachfl.gov UNITED STATES OF AMERICA http://www.firstgov.gov/ The Watchdog Report covers a few of the meetings attended weekly. It remains my belief that an informed public will make better decisions. Therefore, I go to meetings, make the presence of an informed citizen known, and bring the information to you. The Watchdog Report is in the fourth year of publication and it has been an honor to be able to send this information to you. It is sent to readers in Miami-Dade, Florida, the U.S. and the world. The Watchdog Report is sent to thousands free and while readers have been prodded to subscribe the results have been mixed. Over 250 reports and Extra’s have been sent since May 5, 2000 and over one million words have been written on our community’s governments and events. The report is an original work based on information gathered at public meetings, interviews and from documents in the public domain. LETTER POLICY
I welcome letters via e-mail, fax, or snail mail. Letters may be edited for length or clarity and must refer to material published in the Watchdog Report. Please see address and contact information. Please send any additions and corrections by e-mail, fax or snail mail. All corrections will be published in the next Watchdog Report. If you or your organization would like to publish the contents of this newsletter, please contact me. Please send your request to watchdogreport1@earthlink.net Daniel A. Ricker Publisher & Editor Watchdog Report Est. 05.05.00 Copyright © of original material, 2014, Daniel A. Ricker
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