Latest news with #BigStormBrewery
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Florida Men Accused of Stealing More Than $100 Million Meant for People With Special Needs
Supported by Twenty-five years ago, Leo J. Govoni of Clearwater, Fla., co-founded a nonprofit organization meant to help people with special needs manage their funds. But he and an accountant were using it as a 'personal piggy bank' to steal more than $100 million, federal prosecutors said on Monday. Mr. Govoni is accused of using some of the money to fund a brewery, to travel by private jet, to buy real estate and to pay personal debts, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida said in a statement. In an indictment unsealed on Monday, Mr. Govoni, 67, and the accountant, John L. Witeck, 60, Tampa, Fla., were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, three counts of mail fraud, six counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Mr. Govoni was also charged with one count of bank fraud, one count of illegal monetary transactions and one count of making a false bankruptcy declaration. Court documents say others were also involved in the scheme. Big Storm Brewery in Clearwater, Fla., received the stolen money to cover operating and expansion costs, according to the indictment. Mr. Govoni and some of the others controlled a small aviation company that had at least one private jet and that was funded by stolen money, court records said. Prosecutors said Mr. Govoni had taken out a $3 million mortgage refinance loan and laundered about $205,000 in fraud proceeds to pay off a home equity line of credit on his residence. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Big Storm Brewery employee gives insight on controversy surrounding businesss
CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — David Higgins said he was paid to keep bad news about Pinellas County businessman Leo Govoni's companies out of the public eye. Higgins said it wasn't easy as people came forward complaining about missing money they had placed in Govoni's care — money meant to provide for disabled family members. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now A federal bankruptcy judge has already found Govoni liable for $120 million in missing money. The FBI has opened an investigation as well. Higgins finds himself in the exact same position as many of the Govoni's alleged victims, wondering where the money went. Over the years, Big Storm Brewery made a name for itself in the Tampa Bay craft beer scene. Co-owner LJ Govoni even gave 8 On Your Side a tour in 2021. TGH patient's hands filled with cholesterol after he ate 6-9 pounds of cheese, butter for months Last summer, Big Storm hit a storm of its own with eviction notices, the closure of four taprooms and only its flagship location in Clearwater left operating. Key employees began to leave, including LJ, as the business faced multiple lawsuits.'The head brewer and the head distiller they parted ways, and we were like we're just going to move forward,' Higgins said. 'We're going to grow the business and make it work.'Higgins said he was hired by LJ's father, Leo.'I started working for Leo Govoni back in October 2023,' said first, Higgins worked as chief marketing officer at Global Litigation Consultants in Clearwater.'It's a consulting agency that works with attorneys across the country to help develop lawsuits for injured people,' said the same business Investigator that somehow gained control of a North Carolina couple's motorcycle crash settlement money.'They're getting my money every month,' said John Adams, who is missing money was meant to provide for the couple's future care, and it's now missing.'In the spring of 2024, my position switched from Global Litigation Consultants to Big Storm Brewery,' Higgins was around the same time a local physician sued the Govonis and Big Storm, accusing them of using the brewery to launder millions from Leo Govoni's non-profit, the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration. The doctor later reached a confidential settlement, but a federal judge has since found Leo Govoni liable for $120 million missing from the Center for Special Needs. Govoni remains the subject of an FBI investigation. The FBI's public affairs office shared this message: 'This is still an ongoing investigation, and the FBI does not discuss actions taken in the course of a criminal investigation.' As news of the missing money spread, Higgins said the public and alleged victims reacted. 'Obviously the public had a negative view of what was happening,' he said. 'There was a lot of online negativity, especially we had protesters outside the brewery weekly.' Higgins said he was fired last month and claims Govoni owes him more than $8,000 in back pay. Now he finds himself in the same position as many former Govoni clients, struggling to get answers and find out what happened to the money he believe he is owed. 'Unfortunately, I found myself in a position like several other employees of the company both Global Litigation and Big Storm where we have not been paid for the work that we've done,' he said. Higgins said he has filed a complaint with Pinellas County wondering if and when he and others will ever get paid. 8 On Your Side reached out to Pinellas County to find out how many wage complaints had been filed. 'A wage theft complaint would be handled by our Office of Human Rights, and they would not be able to comment about an open inquiry or investigation if there was one. Information is made available when an investigation is completed or closed,' a spokesperson said. Previously, Big Storm had a PR firm representing them, but we're told they have also parted ways. Big Storm is facing another lawsuit. Court records showed Apex Commercial Capital Corporation is suing Leo Govoni and Big Storm to recover commercial equipment at the brewery. The suit revealed back in 2022, the parties entered a equipment finance agreement requiring Big Storm to make 60 monthly payments of $1,843.49. Apex claimed Govoni failed to pay and now seeks $70,379.14 in damages. It's important to note that Leo Govoni has not been charged with a crime. Neither Govoni nor his attorneys have responded to our requests for information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
