BREAKING NEWS
Report on discontinued Jacksonville crime reduction grant program finds compliance failures, misuse of funds
Read full article: Report on discontinued Jacksonville crime reduction grant program finds compliance failures, misuse of fundsA new report from Jacksonville’s Office of Inspector General raised concerns about the oversight and spending of taxpayer money intended to reduce crime in 2022 and 2023.
New report finds former Jacksonville crime prevention program Cure Violence lacked oversight, had several deficiencies
Read full article: New report finds former Jacksonville crime prevention program Cure Violence lacked oversight, had several deficienciesCure Violence was announced with a lot of fanfare back in 2019. At first, the data suggested it was making a difference. Then it ended in 2023 and the city pulled funding in March 2024. The Office of Inspector General says it launched its investigation to find out why the city terminated the contract.
Investigation finds hiring violations, money mismanagement at Families of Slain Children nonprofit
Read full article: Investigation finds hiring violations, money mismanagement at Families of Slain Children nonprofitThe Families of Slain Children, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit known for its work supporting grieving families, is under scrutiny following an investigation by the city’s Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Bad state data may misdirect nearly $1 billion in federal funds to replace lead pipes
Read full article: Bad state data may misdirect nearly $1 billion in federal funds to replace lead pipesThe Environmental Protection Agency didn't ensure that states submitted accurate estimates of the number of lead pipes they had.
Duval County schools to improve AED protocols after investigation finds issues with safety inspection reports
Read full article: Duval County schools to improve AED protocols after investigation finds issues with safety inspection reportsDuval County Public Schools is making some changes to improve the inspection of automated external defibrillators (AED), after a report from the Office of Inspector General found some issues with its safety inspection reports.
Some Jacksonville solid waste drivers racked up over $50,000 in overtime pay, investigation finds
Read full article: Some Jacksonville solid waste drivers racked up over $50,000 in overtime pay, investigation findsA new Office of Inspector General (OIG) report looked into allegations that Jacksonville Solid Waste Division drivers collected tens of thousands of dollars in possibly unjustified overtime.
City of Jacksonville review finds $314K in unreported fraud involving money for emergency rental grants
Read full article: City of Jacksonville review finds $314K in unreported fraud involving money for emergency rental grantsDuring a review of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), Jacksonville’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) reported that it uncovered five previously unreported cases of fraud involving more than $314,000. The OIG has referred those five cases to state and federal prosecutors for criminal prosecution.
Feds wrote $128M in duplicate checks to docs, report finds
Read full article: Feds wrote $128M in duplicate checks to docs, report findsThe federal government wrote duplicate checks to doctors who provided care for veterans, costing taxpayers as much as $128 million in extra payments, according to a new watchdog report out this week.
Jacksonville postal worker sentenced for stealing mail
Read full article: Jacksonville postal worker sentenced for stealing mailA mail carrier who pleaded guilty to stealing mail while employed by the United States Postal Service was sentenced Monday to two years’ probation, with $215 in restitution and a $100 special assessment.
Committee agrees with decision to place Jacksonville’s inspector general on administrative leave
Read full article: Committee agrees with decision to place Jacksonville’s inspector general on administrative leaveLast week, Lisa Green -- the city of Jacksonville’s inspector general -- was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.
Watchdog: Little help from Trump officials in census probe
Read full article: Watchdog: Little help from Trump officials in census probeA watchdog agency investigating the origins of a failed attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census form was unable to question top Trump administration officials because they either refused to cooperate or set unacceptable interview terms.
Feds take down Medicare scams that preyed on virus fears
Read full article: Feds take down Medicare scams that preyed on virus fearsThe Justice Department is announcing criminal charges against more than a dozen people from Florida to California in a series of Medicare scams that exploited coronavirus fears to bill tens of millions of dollars in bogus claims.
'Skilled predator' FBI boss harassed 8 women, watchdog finds
Read full article: 'Skilled predator' FBI boss harassed 8 women, watchdog findsThe former top FBI agent in Albany, New York, was a “skilled predator” who harassed eight women in one of the bureau's most egregious known sexual misconduct cases.
Audit finds major gaps in US bio weapons detection system
Read full article: Audit finds major gaps in US bio weapons detection systemAn audit has found gaps in a program intended to provide the U.S. with an early detection system of a biological weapon attack. It also left detection equipment exposed and unguarded, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security found. It was meant to reduce the time it takes to recognize an attack by monitoring for known biological agents. In 34 out of 35 jurisdictions, inspectors found BioWatch equipment could not always collect air samples to test because of security breaches or unplugging. The Homeland Security office said it would work with the organizations that host the equipment to improve security and planned to “enhance” biological detection capabilities.
FBI raids pharmacy in Jacksonville’s Arlington area
Read full article: FBI raids pharmacy in Jacksonville’s Arlington areaJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The FBI and investigators with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday raided a pharmacy in Jacksonville’s Arlington neighborhood. Agents spent several hours inside Cure Pharmacy on Merrill Road and could be seen wheeling boxes out of the business, which is in a shopping center with several other businesses. “In keeping with standard law enforcement practice, I am able to provide no further information on this operation. After investigators left, the doors of Cure Pharmacy were closed throughout the afternoon and News4Jax didn’t see anyone inside or any customers come by. News4Jax reached out to the pharmacy for comment but had not heard back as of 4 p.m.
Postal carrier accused of stealing mail-in ballot in Miami
Read full article: Postal carrier accused of stealing mail-in ballot in MiamiPostal Service carrier is accused of stealing a Miami-Dade County mail-in ballot, 10 gift cards and four prepaid debit cards earlier this month, federal authorities said. The mail-in ballot had been sent to a resident by the Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections Office on Oct. 6, the complaint said. After the interview, the investigators told Myrie she would have to turn in her postal identification, the Herald reported. “By stealing (the victim’s) vote-by-mail ballot, Myrie deprived (the victim) of her right to vote,” the complaint said. Myrie “admitted that she has been stealing mail sporadically (on her route) for almost two years,” the complaint said.
Former Kids Hope Alliance CEO had sex with subordinate, misused position, investigation finds
Read full article: Former Kids Hope Alliance CEO had sex with subordinate, misused position, investigation findsJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A city investigation into Joe Peppers, the former head of the Kids Hope Alliance, uncovered he was having an intimate relationship with a senior leadership team member that went sour while they both worked at the city-funded office. The letter outlined concerns involving KHA operations, senior leadership, mismanagement within the organization and allegations of inappropriate relationships involving Peppers. Through interviews, investigators found that Peppers had a consensual sexual relationship with an unnamed senior leadership team member who directly reported to him from Aug. 2018 until Feb. 2019. The senior leadership team member said Peppers “crossed the line” when he mentioned her child, according to the investigation. The text message came a few months after the senior leadership team member told Peppers she planned to resign in August of 2019.
2 inmates die of suspected overdose at Florida prison
Read full article: 2 inmates die of suspected overdose at Florida prisonLAKE CITY, Fla. - Two inmates died and a third was in stable condition at a hospital Saturday after a suspected drug overdose at the Columbia Correctional Institution, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating with the assistance of the department's Office of Inspector General. "At this time our focus is on the health and swift recovery of the officers and individuals involved. The facility has been placed on lockdown, while we provide FDLE with everything they need to investigate this incident," Michelle Glady, director of communicators for the Florida Department of Corrections, said. Visitation at the Columbia Correctional Institution was canceled on Sunday.
Correctional officer arrested in Suwannee County
Read full article: Correctional officer arrested in Suwannee CountyLIVE OAK, Fla. – A correctional officer from Suwannee County was arrested Thursday and accused of introducing contraband into a prison. Alice Edwards, 32, was arrested during an Office of Inspector General criminal investigation. She worked at Suwannee Correctional Institution, according to the affadavit. No other information was released about the charges or what type of contraband was involved. Edwards was booked into the Suwannee County Jail following her arrest.