(FAKE) Fla. charity figures pumped $1M to (GOP)politicians
Source: Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) The key players behind a purported veterans charity accused of setting up illegal gambling rooms pumped more than $1 million into the campaign accounts of politicians who had the power to regulate or put them out of business.
As the untaxed, barely regulated industry mushroomed into a billion-dollar industry, money went to the campaigns of (GOP) governors in Florida and North Carolina as well as dozens of state legislators, and state political parties.
"They certainly were involved in the process there's no doubt about that," said Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, who himself received a $500 check from one of the companies involved.
An Associated Press review of contributions showed more than $1 million went into Florida campaign accounts from 2009-2012 and more than $150,000 in North Carolina.
Allied Veterans of the World ran nearly 50 Internet parlors in Florida with computerized slot machine-style games and gave about $6 million to veterans out of nearly $300 million in profits. Investigators said much of the money went to charity leaders, who spent much of it on boats, beachfront condos and vehicles such as Maseratis, Ferraris and Porsches. The operations were shut down this week and nearly 60 people arrested. Jennifer Carroll, Florida's Republican lieutenant governor, abruptly resigned after being questioned by investigators. Carroll did consulting work for Allied Veterans while she was a state legislator. She was not charged with wrongdoing.
Read more: http://www.mycenturylink.com/news/read.php?rip_id=<DA514QSG0%40news.ap.org>&ps=1011
Turns out the reason the Florida Lt. Governor resigned suddenly, was the connection to this fake Veterans organization that pumped money into GOP campaigns.
Sad- and not unexpected, that people would defraud veterans to fund the GOP.
James48
(4,429 posts)They made $300 million in profits-
and gave $6 million to veterans. They kept the rest, and gave a million to GOP politicians to keep them off their trail while they ran the gambling operation.
Still bad in my book- people thought they were raising money for veterans that instead mostly went to greed, fast cars, and personal bank accounts.
mountain grammy
(26,606 posts)catbyte
(34,358 posts)Botany
(70,478 posts)No doubt this will be national news and all the truth will come out.
Do I need to add this?
Matter of fact Lindsey Graham will demand an investigation.
Cha
(297,029 posts)every Floridian voter. Rick Scott doesn't escape association just because his Lt Gov resigned.
WTH
loudsue
(14,087 posts)All because of the bush mafia's supreme court. Their corruption continues even though they are out of the white house.
amuse bouche
(3,657 posts)A bunch of cafes fronting for illegal gambling
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)and scam artists rich habits.
dorksied
(348 posts)and look at the real word...
The GOP being unethical is like saying a tiger has stripes.
ReRe
(10,597 posts)... and shame on the state of Florida. Florida has got to be the corruption capital state of the USA, adjusted for square mileage. I think the Army Corps of Engineers needs to go down there and dig a big canal around the northern border, and then give it a shove, hoping that it will float off into the Atlantic Ocean into the Bermuda Triangle.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Botany
(70,478 posts)n/t
magellan
(13,257 posts)...at this business and others like it. The Florida Council of Compulsive Gambling lodged complaints, but these centers insisted there was no gambling going on and placed the blame on the government for giving unrestricted cash to welfare recipients.
Allied Veterans of the World figured prominently in these news stories.