[nfbmi-talk] Fw: corruption kills programs and people too

[joe harcz Comcast]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Beatty, Timothy 
To: joe harcz Comcast 
Cc: nh_adapt at yahoogroups.com ; nlcmom at comcast.net ; lhallconsulting at gmail.com ; rhonk0642 at gmail.com ; weaseladapt at gmail.com ; sheinzman at twmi.rr.com ; kelly at ncil.org ; Billy Altom (bwaltom at sbcglobal.net) 
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2014 9:17 AM
Subject: RE: corruption kills programs and people too


Mr. Harcz,

 

Thank you for your email. The Independent Living Unit within RSA was notified by the board of directors of the issues taking place within the Center for Independent Living of Southwest Florida in 2012 and immediately notified the Office of Inspector General (OIG) in the Department of Education. OIG opened an investigation and requested that RSA not disclose any information about the investigation (see attached) while they worked with the State of Florida to investigate the possible fraud and mismanagement of State and Federal funds. OIG agreed to let the State of Florida take the lead on the prosecution while they provided investigative and forensic support.  

 

We take any allegations of fraud and mismanagement of Federal funds very seriously and report such incidents to OIG while immediately taking steps internally to do our due diligence to protect the Federal interest. These include but not limited to placing centers for independent living on conditions which includes restricting drawdowns of Federal funds and requiring cost reimbursements, requiring the development and approval of a corrective action plan and termination. At this point in time we have a number of centers on conditions and several were either terminated or relinquished their grants this year.

 

Timothy Beatty, Chief

Independent Living Unit 
Rehabilitation Services Administration 
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) 

US Department of Education

(202)245-6156

timothy.beatty at ed.gov

 

From: joe harcz Comcast [mailto:joeharcz at comcast.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 8:27 AM
To: Beatty, Timothy
Cc: Cavataio, Christyne
Subject: Fw: corruption kills programs and people too

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: joe harcz Comcast 

To: nh_adapt at yahoogroups.com 

Cc: Leigh Campbell-Earl ; Laura Hall ; Scott Heinzman ADAPT ; rhon koch ; Clark Goodrich 

Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 8:25 AM

Subject: corruption kills programs and people too

 

This is why transparency and scrutiny of Centers for Independent Living and indeed Vocational Rehabilitation Programs is so important. It is obvious that many monitors including the feds (RSA) are dropping the ball.

 

I value and want these programs, but they serve no one when outright corruption let alone waste and incompetence takes place.

 

Joe Harcz

 

Capital Soup - Florida News Straight from the Source

Jeff atwater

 

CFO Jeff Atwater Announces Conviction of Fort Myers Man Found Guilty of Misappropriating More than $900,000, Including State Funds

 

TALLAHASSEE-Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced the conviction of Robert Michael Eugene "Gene" Bruist, 37, of Fort Myers for the

misappropriation of more than $900,000 in funds intended for use by the now defunct Center for Independent Living of Southwest Florida (CILSWFL), a local

non-profit that was providing services to persons with disabilities in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties.

 

"Stealing from hard-working, law-abiding taxpayers is an intolerable act of selfishness, and I applaud the investigators and the jury for making sure justice

was served," said CFO Atwater. "The Center for Independent Living provided a valuable service to the residents of Southwest Florida, and this man's careless

actions cheated them out of the assistance they deserved."

 

This conviction is the product of a joint investigation launched by CFO Atwater's Office of Fiscal Integrity and the Florida Department of Education's Office

of Inspector General after the center was unexpectedly closed due to a lack of operational funds. The investigation revealed that Bruist stole state money,

as well as other funds received from sources including federal grants, non-profit grants and individual donations, for his own personal use to fund an

extravagant lifestyle that included international travel.

 

Bruist, the former CILSWFL executive director, was convicted on three felony charges, which included communications fraud, 1st degree grand theft and aggravated

white collar crime. Sentencing is set for May 12. He faces up to 65 years in prison. The office of State Attorney Stephen Russell of the 20th Judicial

Circuit prosecuted the case.

 

CFO Atwater's Office of Fiscal Integrity is comprised of investigators, accountants and sworn law enforcement detectives who investigate contract fraud

and other theft schemes committed against the State of Florida. The Office of Fiscal Integrity utilizes its statutory subpoena authority to obtain bank

account and other records to "follow the money" in these very complex investigations. To report fraud, waste or abuse of state resources visit

www.MyFloridaCFO.com

or contact the Office of Fiscal Integrity at (850) 413-5514.

 

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, a statewide elected official, oversees the Department of Financial Services.  CFO Atwater's priorities include fighting

financial fraud, abuse and waste in government, reducing government spending and regulatory burdens that chase away businesses, and providing transparency

and accountability in spending.

 

Source:

http://capitalsoup.com/2014/04/04/cfo-jeff-atwater-announces-conviction-of-fort-myers-man-found-guilty-of-misappropriating-more-than-900000-including-state-funds/
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