Florida Keys Tourism PR Head Facing 28 Criminal Charges
A Florida man whose public relations firm was tasked to help promote the Florida Keys to prospective visitors from around the world is now facing more than two dozen criminal charges over allegations that he made false statements concerning payments to a non-existent company.
The criminal complaint against the defendant comes months after an audit of the Key West-based taxpayer-funded Monroe County Tourist Development Council which contracted with Andy Newman and his company NewmanPR. The audit revealed what officials described as “serious ethical concerns” and possible law-breaking within the agency.
According to the county audit, NewmanPR was reimbursed nearly $30,000 for invoices during the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years for a company called Graphics 71, which Newman is said to have controlled. The audit found that those payments possibly represented a double-billing for services that Newman had already been paid to perform. Authorities, however, allege that Graphics 71 did not exist.
“The investigation, which involved information obtained through subpoenas, an audit report from the Clerk of Court, and our independent in-depth forensic audit uncovered a series of false declarations made by Newman concerning payments allegedly issued by Stuart Newman Enterprises to a fictitious company, Graphics 71,” the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office said in a social media post just recently.
According to the SAO’s office, Newman, 68, faces 14 counts of perjury when not in an official proceeding, a first-degree misdemeanor. The allegations assert that Newman knowingly provided false statements under oath about payments to a nonexistent entity, Graphics 71. He is further accused of 14 counts of making false official statements, a second-degree misdemeanor.
Perjury when not in an official proceeding and making false official statements
According to Florida Statutes 837.012:
(1) Whoever makes a false statement, which he or she does not believe to be true, under oath, not in an official proceeding, in regard to any material matter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(2) Knowledge of the materiality of the statement is not an element of this crime, and the defendant’s mistaken belief that his or her statement was not material is not a defense.
According to Florida Statutes 837.06:
False official statements.—Whoever knowingly makes a false statement in writing with the intent to mislead a public servant in the performance of his or her official duty shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
Essentially, both laws relate to making statements to public servants under the guise of doing official business.
Talk to a Tallahassee Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Tallahassee criminal defense lawyer Luke Newman, P.A. represents the interests of those who have been charged with various crimes under Florida law. Call our office today to set up an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense right away.
Source:
local10.com/news/local/2024/08/06/florida-keys-tourism-pr-head-facing-28-criminal-charges-in-wake-of-audit/
