Embattled leader of Florida domestic violence coalition to repay $2 million after scandal

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Tiffany Carr, erstwhile enforcement manager of Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, left, speaks astatine a quality league held by Gov. Jeb Bush, right, to denote a nationalist consciousness run designed to forestall disaster-related home violence, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, successful Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Office of Attorney General person settled pending civilian actions involving the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV), its officers and directors and the FCADV instauration for much than $5 million, the authorities announced Thursday.

“Today’s colony is simply a triumph successful our combat to retrieve wealth that was intended to assistance families rebuild aft facing home violence,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a property league successful Orlando. “This enactment acted successful greed, abusing authorities dollars meant to service families during their astir susceptible times. I americium thankful this injustice was righted contiguous with the instrumentality of this money.”

An probe recovered that erstwhile FCADV CEO, Tiffany Carr, implicit a three-year play received $7.5 cardinal successful compensation. The authorities filed lawsuits against Carr and the conjugation and accused them of misusing nationalist funds.

“For respective years, FCADV and Tiffany Carr concocted to wage herself an excessive compensation scheme, millions of dollars meant to payment home unit victims. When uncovered, this strategy threatened to disrupt backing to home unit centers,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “I americium pleased that done these actions, we succeeded successful getting escaped of the atrocious management, dismantling the organization, implementing a caller strategy to service victims of home unit and recouping millions of misappropriated funds.”

“Florida taxpayers merit afloat accountability and transparency,” said DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris. “The FCADV was deceptive with authorities funds, and I convey Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for the justness served today. We volition proceed moving to guarantee survivors person the attraction and enactment they request portion remaining transparent with the Legislature and taxpayers.”

In aboriginal 2020, DeSantis ordered an probe into the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence aft reports indicated the officers of the non-profit were receiving exorbitant compensation and the Coalition failed to supply close fiscal records to DCF. The Florida Legislature past passed House Bill 1087 to region FCADV from statute and to let DCF to straight declaration with providers.

DCF filed a suit against FCADV, Carr, CFO Patricia Duarte, COO Sandra Barnett, and its committee members, alleging breach of contract, breach of the implied work of bully faith, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent concealment, civilian conspiracy and fraudulent misrepresentation.

In transportation with the settlement, the FCADV officers and directors volition wage much than $3.9 cardinal to DCF and the receiver, including a much than $2 cardinal outgo by Carr. The FCADV instauration is required to liquidate each remaining assets and wage $1.1 cardinal to home unit centers astir the state.

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