Tag: fraud

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Possible Bribery Charges For Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi Over Donald Trump Donation

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi

A Massachusetts lawyer has requested federal prosecutors look into bribery charges against Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and GOP White House hopeful Donald Trump.

The issue at hand goes back to 2013 when Bondi was reviewing complaints against Trump University, now at the center of several fraud lawsuits.

Just days after her campaign sought, and received, a $25,000 donation to her political action committee from Donald Trump, Bondi decided against investigating the complaints.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

The Orlando Sentinel reported on Sept. 13, 2013 that Bondi’s office was looking into the Trump complaints. Campaign finance records show Bondi’s political committee, And Justice for All, received the $25,000 donation from Trump on Sept. 17, 2013.

“Evidence strongly indicates that Bondi’s decision not to initiate or participate in litigation against Trump University was given in exchange for Trump’s contribution based on the short time period between the receipt of the political contribution and the announcement of Bondi’s decision not to participate in the New York litigation,” Larrabee’s complaint states.

The Associated Press reported earlier this month that Bondi’s political consultant Marc Reichelderfer said she personally solicited the donation from Trump. Larrabee filed state ethics and elections complaints against Bondi over the Trump donation after the report was published.

Those complaints are still being reviewed, but Bondi called the allegations untrue. A spokeswoman for Bondi did not respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.

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Martin Shkreli – “Most Hated Man In America” – Arrested On Stock Fraud

Now dubbed “Most Hated Man in America,” Martin Shkreli was arrested today and charged in an illegal stock scheme.

A boyish drug company entrepreneur, who rocketed to infamy by jacking up the price of a life-saving pill from $13.50 to $750, was arrested on securities fraud related to a firm he founded.

Martin Shkreli, 32, ignited a firestorm over drug prices in September and became a symbol of defiant greed. The federal case against him has nothing to do with pharmaceutical costs, however. Prosecutors charged him with illegally taking stock from Retrophin Inc., a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. He was later ousted from the company, where he’d been chief executive officer, and sued by its board.

In the case that closely tracks that suit, federal prosecutors accused Shkreli of engaging in a complicated shell game after his defunct hedge fund, MSMB Capital Management, lost millions. He is alleged to have made secret payoffs and set up sham consulting arrangements.

Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. I wonder if he’ll look that smug in jail…?

Shkreli’s most recent douchebag move was to acquire the rights to a drug used to treat Chagas disease. Shkreli has announced his plan to get approval for the drug in the United States and sell it for around $60,000 to $100,000 for a course of treatment. In Latin America, where the disease is most prevalent, the drug costs only $50 to $100.

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Abby Lee Miller of DANCE MOMS Fame Indicted On 20 Counts Of Bankruptcy Fraud

Reality TV celeb Abby Lee Miller, of DANCE MOMS fame, finds herself stepping in serious hot water as reports say she is the sole defendant named in a 20 count indictment by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of bankruptcy fraud, concealment of bankruptcy assets and false bankruptcy declarations.

According to the indictment, Miller attempted to reorganize her dance studio’s debt via bankruptcy court in December 2010.

From WPXI:

She is accused of concealing income she earned between 2012 and 2013 from her performances on the show and related spinoff TV shows, as well as from dance sessions and merchandise sales.

The indictment alleges Miller created bank accounts to hide the income, and instructed others to conceal certain income from the bankruptcy court.

Miller is accused of concealing income totaling about $755,000.

If convicted, she faces a possible sentence of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 for each count of the indictment.

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AIDS Healthcare Foundation Accused Of $100 Million Kickback Scheme

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a global nonprofit provider of HIV/AIDS medical care with over 350,000 patients, has been accused of defrauding federal healthcare programs over the past five years.

Allegations say the company may have raked in as much as $100 million in illegal kickbacks and referral fees.

Via Queerty:

In a lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on April 3, whistleblowers Jack Carrel, Mauricio Ferrer, and Shawn Loftis, all of whom held management positions with AHF before being fired from their jobs after questioning the organization’s referral practices, claim AHF boosted funding from federal healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and Health and Human Services HIV/AIDS grant programs, by offering illegal kickbacks of $100 to employees who created false HIV/AIDS referrals, and $50 to patients who patronized its clinics and pharmacies.

According to the complaint, the fraud began back in 2010 and took place in 11 different states plus Washington, D.C., and resulting in AHF collecting more than $20 million a year off thousands of illegal referrals.

According to the three former managers, the fraud began in 2010 and took place over 11 states and the District of Columbia.

AHS has been extremely vocal in it’s opposition to the use of Truvada as a daily HIV preventive.

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Former “Ex-Gay” Poster Boy Speaks Out Against Harmful Reparative Therapy

After years of being used as an “ex-gay” poster boy, Christian Schizzel has come out publicly against the techniques and practices used to try and change his sexuality.  Says Schizzel of the “ex-gay” movement, “I won’t be a weapon anymore.”

From Religion News Service:

In an exclusive interview with RNS, Christian tells about his experience with the Janet Boynes Ministries and The Bachmann & Associates counseling centers, the latter operation owned by U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann and husband Marcus Bachmann. Both entities were associated with the now closed Exodus International but are currently still in business. (No response yet for comment. Will update post if that changes.)

At nine years of age, Christian was sexually and physically abused by his step father — a missionary who used Bible verses to silence Christian into submission. He even used scripture during the acts itself to justify the abuse. Years later at the age of 18, after coming out to friends and family, Christian was encouraged to seek help at the ministry. It was there that they used this horrific experience to pinpoint the “cause” of Christian’s sexuality, although Christian said he knew about his sexuality before the abuse.

“Coming out publicly and sharing is important to me because my sexuality has been exploited my whole life by the Christian community both knowingly and un-knowingly.”

Christian ends the Q&A by saying he considers his sexuality a natural gift from God, and urges those who support reparative therapy to rethink it’s harmful and excruciatingly painful practice.

(h/t JMG)

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Exodus International, so-called “ex-gay” organization, ends it’s harmful run

Exodus International, the most prominent “ex-gay” ministry, is closing up shop after more than three decades.

Decades have passed as we’ve seen Exodus and other offer so-called “reparative therapy,” seeking to turn from gay to straight, only to find the therapy is not only ineffective but harmful.

From the Exodus International website:

“We’re not negating the ways God used Exodus to positively affect thousands of people, but a new generation of Christians is looking for change – and they want to be heard,” Tony Moore, Board member of Exodus. The message came less than a day after Exodus released a statement apologizing  to the gay community for years of undue judgment by the organization and the Christian Church as a whole.

“Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but we’ve ceased to be a living, breathing organism,” said Alan Chambers, President of Exodus. “For quite some time we’ve been imprisoned in a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical.”

Chambers continued: “From a Judeo-Christian perspective, gay, straight or otherwise, we’re all prodigal sons and daughters. Exodus International is the prodigal’s older brother, trying to impose its will on God’s promises, and make judgments on who’s worthy of His Kingdom. God is calling us to be the Father – to welcome everyone, to love unhindered.”

Alan Chambers has also released his own apology in a post entitled I Am Sorry “to the people within the LGBTQ community who have been hurt by the Church, Exodus International, and me”:

Please know that I am deeply sorry. I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn’t change. I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents. I am sorry that there were times I didn’t stand up to people publicly “on my side” who called you names like sodomite—or worse. I am sorry that I, knowing some of you so well, failed to share publicly that the gay and lesbian people I know were every bit as capable of being amazing parents as the straight people that I know. I am sorry that when I celebrated a person coming to Christ and surrendering their sexuality to Him that I callously celebrated the end of relationships that broke your heart. I am sorry that I have communicated that you and your families are less than me and mine.

More than anything, I am sorry that so many have interpreted this religious rejection by Christians as God’s rejection. I am profoundly sorry that many have walked away from their faith and that some have chosen to end their lives. For the rest of my life I will proclaim nothing but the whole truth of the Gospel, one of grace, mercy and open invitation to all to enter into an inseverable relationship with almighty God.

I cannot apologize for my deeply held biblical beliefs about the boundaries I see in scripture surrounding sex, but I will exercise my beliefs with great care and respect for those who do not share them. I cannot apologize for my beliefs about marriage. But I do not have any desire to fight you on your beliefs or the rights that you seek. My beliefs about these things will never again interfere with God’s command to love my neighbor as I love myself.

You have never been my enemy. I am very sorry that I have been yours. I hope the changes in my own life, as well as the ones we announce tonight regarding Exodus International, will bring resolution, and show that I am serious in both my regret and my offer of friendship. I pledge that future endeavors will be focused on peace and common good.

Good riddance to Exodus and others who have caused great harm and injury to so many.

The Oprah Winfrey Netowork will air a special tonight that features Alan Chambers apologizing to gays and lesbians who were affected by his organization. Check times on your local guide.

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Exodus International leader to apologize for damaging “cure” for homosexuality

For almost 40 years, Exodus International claimed to offer a “cure” for homosexuality. Alan Chambers, the leader of Exodus, decided last year to stop endorsing the controversial practice of gay-reparative therapy. And now, he has a new message: an apology.

In a special episode of Our America, Lisa Ling is joined by a group of survivors of the condemned and damaging practice of “reparative therapy” as they confront Alan Chambers.

Chambers recently asked Ling to help orchestrate an opportunity in which he could formally apologize to those who felt deceived and defrauded by Exodus’ practices and to announce that the organization will cease to be an “ex gay” organization.

Tune in Thursday, June 20th at 10/9c for a special presentation of this powerful report.

For more on Our America with Lisa Ling, click here.