Notorious con man Joel Steinger, the mastermind of the Mutual Benefits Ponzi scheme, has cooperated with federal agents in an ongoing political corruption investigation, according to sources in the legal and political community. Specifically, Steinger helped the FBI gather evidence on major GOP fundraiser and Charlie Crist political adviser Alan Mendelsohn, the sources say. Mendelsohn, a Hollywood eye doctor…
Every week the Palm Beach Post runs a special page inside the sports section called “Outdoor World.” It looks like journalism, but it isn’t. It’s an “advertorial” page done by the newspaper’s marketing department. And last week, one of the people marketed on the page was none other than Publisher Alex Taylor. The page,…
The Pulp and Miami lawyer Ed Shohat have a lot in common these days. I’ve been writing about con artist Joel Steinger and former Anna Nicole Smith judge Larry Seidlin, and Shohat… well, he’s been defending them. I caught up with the lawyer on the phone on Friday and we had…
The post about the feds seizing city activist Fane Lozman’s floating home from the Riveria Beach Municipal Marina blew up yesterday. By that, I mean it got deluged by the people at Digg.com, a web community thingie wherein people promote stories of interest. I don’t know how many views have…
Massive layoffs and cutbacks are one thing, but you really know the newspaper depression is serious when the troubles get between journalists and their award ceremonies. Last night, the directors of the Society of Professional Journalists’ southern regional Green Eyeshade Awards canceled the banquet for economic reasons. Here’s a press release issued last night: LITTLE ROCK –…
Sheila Alu sometimes feels like a marked woman. The Sunrise commissioner has been called a “rat” on blogs and newspaper websites, has been shunned at her day job as prosecutor in the State Attorney’s Office, has lost friendships, and was personally attacked in a recent deposition. Her sin: coming forward…
Michael Rosen remembers standing in the elevator when he was just 3 or 4 years old. He was with his mother in their condo building, and several adults beamed at him, talking about how cute he was. He looked up and told them, “Go fuck yourself.” Rosen winces at the…
Lawyer and activist Brenda Chalifour says she isn’t going to rest until Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter is behind bars. To further that aim, Chalifour has filed a complaint with the Florida Elections Commission claiming Ritter has violated campaign law. Among her findings is that Ritter accepted more than the campaign minimum…
The Palm Beach Daily News, better-known as the Shiny Sheet, was supposed to be insulated from the economic downturn, ensconced as it is in the Palm Beach decadence and luxury described so artfully in Laurence Leamer’s latest book. But word is coming that 11 people were laid off today at…
So the Department of Children and Families closed its investigation of former Judge Larry Seidlin, based on allegations that he exploited elderly widow Barbara Kasler, without filing any charges. What did you expect? The judge is way too slick for DCF; they go forward on big obvious cases of abuse, which this isn’t…
On the day 30 people in the Sun-Sentinel newsroom are laid off, the corporate news is just dandy, according to Tribune Co. COO Randy Michaels, who reports that the company is “making progress.” For instance, the show “WWE Superstars” had great ratings on WGN, and they’re having wonderful luck with…
Names are starting to stream in from the lastest layoffs at the Sun-Sentinel. As always, I’m going to compile them as they come in. This has caused a small bit of controversy in the past, but it’s done in the name of honoring those who are leaving and informing the…
So the Florida Supreme Court just accepted the State Attorney’s motion to vacate the death penalty conviction of Omar Loureiro. Now we’ll have a new murder trial, but there won’t be an evidentiary hearing into the allegations against Judge Ana Gardiner. In other words, Gardiner, who broke judicial rules and lied…
Word was that the layoffs at the Sun-Sentinel — 30 are expected in the newsroom — were going to begin on Tuesday. But I’ve been told by several sources that they have already begun. A source tells me that venerable photographer Lou Toman will have his last day on Friday;…
Broward Circuit Judge Ana Gardiner should have let a sleeping dog lie. In one of the more vile parts of Gardiner’s deposition in the Omar Loureiro investigation, she implied that Sheila Alu and Ron Cacciatore, who is listed as a witness in the case, had an affair. “According to Sheila, Ron and…
If you haven’t read Judge Ana Gardiner’s transcript, you should. It says more about Broward County corruption than anything I could ever write. And it’s clear that Gardiner has lied under oath and should be investigated and ultimately criminally charged for doing so. The Florida Supreme Court ordered an investigation into Gardiner after…
On Wednesday Sun-Sentinel weather writer Ken Kaye did a little blog post about Broward County Mayor Stacy Ritter’s complaint-fest at some event called the Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference. Apparently former hurricane center director Bill Proenza introduced her as the mayor of Fort Lauderdale. Kaye writes: Ritter, the first speaker during…
Pete Boinis is the guy who cordoned off his swath of land next to the Deerfield Beach Pier with a bunch of poles and then had “No Trespassing” signs up. This is just rude — a bunch of ugly Keep Out signs sitting next to one of the most popular beach spots in north…
Yesterday morning’s headline on the top of the front page of the Sun-Sentinel was, “5 Guilty in Sears Tower Plot.” This morning’s lead headline is: “Desperation Turns Deadly Off Florida.” They are connected in a way, because both are about Haitians. The first is about the Liberty City defendants who have been…
Alan Mendelson, a former close Charlie Crist aide and fundraiser, has resigned his post as treasurer of the Florida Medical Association PAC, a powerful political fund that has raised about $10 million in the past 12 years. While the Hollywood ophthalmologist — who is probably the top political fundraiser in Florida…
[REMINDER: PBS Frontline show on Bernie Madoff and his lieutenants, Frank Avellino and Michael Bienes, is on tonight at 9 10 p.m., including an interview with Bienes, the Fort Lauderdale “philanthropist” and backer of the Broward County Library, Holy Cross Hospital, St. Thomas Aquinas, and other local institutions.] The Tribune’s Lee…
Two sources have mentioned layoffs at CBS-4. One said 20 people have lost their jobs, including the director of communications. No time to report…
