David Jolly, a Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate, is now trying hard to put some serious distance between himself and Leo Govoni, the businessman from Clearwater who has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly plotting what is being described as a massive $100 million fraud scheme that involved funds that were supposed to go to people with disabilities.
Govoni, who helped co-found the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration (CSNT), is now looking at charges including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, bank fraud and making a false bankruptcy declaration. Prosecutors revealed that Govoni diverted over $100 million from trusts that were supposed to support vulnerable individuals with special needs.
The crime ultimately led to the nonprofit filing for bankruptcy, along with financial losses that negatively impacted hundreds of families. Jolly stated that his professional relationship with Govoni concluded over a decade ago at a different company. He then said that he became aware of the charges when they were made public.
According to a report from The Florida Voice, Jolly has not been accused of any wrongdoing and he has not been charged in connection with the case. The gubernatorial candidate’s GOP critics have made the case that Jolly’s longstanding relationship with Govoni should be examined more closely, noting the latter’s role in Jolly’s political fundraising and campaign operations.
Several published reports have stated that Jolly served as the vice president at Govoni’s Boston Finance Group in Clearwater, where he earned over $229,000 a year. His wife, Laura, also previously worked for a business that was run by Govoni. Not long after entering Congress in 2014, Jolly gave Govoni’s son a job as a senior legislative assistant.
Govoni also later worked as a finance co-chair for Jolly’s 2016 U.S. Senate campaign and, along with businesses connected to him, donated over $147,000 to Jolly’s campaign. One of the victims of the scheme, Cheryl Martin, a former Pinellas Park resident, had her leg amputated following an accident. She placed over $700,000 in a trust with Govoni’s center, hoping the money would secure her financial future.
After the center went bankrupt, $400,000 of her money went missing. She then lost the other leg due to complications with diabetes, passing away in hospice at the age of 61. There were many other victims of Govoni’s corruption. Judges have ruled that Govoni is liable for more than $120 million in civil proceedings that resulted in asset seizures and contempt fines.
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Jolly’s relationship with Govoni has now become a major issue for his campaign and doesn’t look likely that it is going to go away between now and the general election in November. Govoni has entered a plea of not guilty and is currently awaiting trial. T
he scheme helped Govoni pay for his expensive lifestyle, which included a private jet, luxury purchases, and his brewing company. Republican opponents have already been highlighting Jolly’s connection with Govoni, citing it as one of many reasons voters should choose to cast a ballot for the GOP candidate.
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