[nfbmi-talk] he got 39 years in prision

[joe harcz Comcast]

Fort Myers man gets 39 years for swindling disabled

 Chris Umpierre, cumpierre at news-press.com 12:26 p.m. EDT May 13, 2014

bruist

 

Robert Michael Bruist(Photo: Special to news-press.com)

 

A Fort Myers man is headed to federal prison after swindling more than $900,000 in state and federal funds aimed to help people with disabilities.

 

Robert Michael Eugene "Gene" Bruist, 37, was sentenced to 39 years in prison today. In April, a Fort Myers jury found Bruist guilty of embezzling state

and federal funds intended for the now-defunct Center for Independent Living of Southwest Florida. Bruist was executive director of the center from 2007-11

when he took the center's money to pay for personal credit card charges and international trips.

 

The center provided services to 700 persons with disabilities in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. The center operated since 1992 and

was largely funded by state and federal dollars and the local United Way. It closed in July 2011 because of lack of funds.

 

Source:

http://www.news-press.com/story/news/crime/2014/05/13/fort-myers-man-gets-39-years-swindling-disabled/9037593/