Latest news with #FloridaDepartmentof
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Fox Sports
Florida A&M AD arrested on fraud charges, accused of stealing over $24,000
Florida A&M University athletic director Angela Suggs was arrested Monday on fraud and theft charges for allegedly using a corporate credit card for personal use totaling more than $24,000 at her former job. Suggs, 55, turned herself in and was booked at the Leon County Jail. She was later released on a $13,500 bond. She was charged with two felonies: grand theft and scheme to defraud. She was also charged with four misdemeanor counts of false claims on travel vouchers. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Suggs made wire transfers, cash withdrawals and personal purchases at casinos during business trips while CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation. The investigation began last November after the FDLE received a criminal referral from the Florida Department of Commerce's Inspector General, which audited Suggs' business credit card purchases and corresponding travel reimbursements at the FSF. The FSF is a direct-support organization operating under the Florida Department of Commerce. The audit revealed that Suggs falsified travel vouchers by coding the unauthorized charges as meals, according to the FDLE. When asked about the unauthorized charges, Suggs claimed some were for business meals and others were accidentally charged to the business card. She failed to fully repay FSF for her personal expenditures, the FDLE said. FAMU Interim President Timothy Beard said in a statement that the university is aware of the allegations connected to her work with a "former employer." "While the matter is unrelated to her duties as an employee at FAMU, we are monitoring the situation and will respond in the future as appropriate," Beard said. There was no attorney listed in jail records for Suggs, who in April hired 1993 Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward as the school's men's basketball coach. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football College Basketball Women's College Basketball recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill inspired by Ivanhoe Village project aims to aid struggling small businesses
A City of Orlando construction project in Ivanhoe Village is prompting a statewide push to help small businesses impacted by prolonged public works projects. Channel 9 first told you about a pipeline replacement project that provided a needed update to the city's sewer system. The project lasted more than 16 months and businesses said the construction hurt their bottom line. A bill known as the Construction Disruption Assistance Act sponsored by State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith is hoping to provide relief to small businesses across the state who are in similar situations. If it becomes law, businesses impacted by public works construction projects could get up to $100,000 in low interest loans. 'We know that these infrastructure repairs are necessary. But the question we ask is at what cost? It's not fair to our locally owned businesses to have to bear the brunt of the sacrifice,' said Guillermo Smith. Guillermo Smith said if the bill gets signed into law, locally owned business could apply for the low interest loans via the Florida Department of Commerce. He said the bill is inspired by the experience of local bar the Hammered Lamb, who told Channel 9 in 2024 that they were feeling the pinch from the city's 'North Orange Avenue Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project' After 12 years in business, the Hammered Lamb ultimately closed their doors in January. Locally owned gift shop Maffrey's Good Goods also said they were impacted by the construction project too. 'At the beginning of the construction in 2024, we saw a 40 percent decrease in our business, which for a small business, that's normally not sustainable,' said Maffrey's owner, Jeff Starks. Starks said he was able to stay in business because of community support and is now supporting the bill to help others businesses keep their doors open. 'I think that would've potentially helped here in this case,' said Starks. Guillermo Smith told Channel 9 the bill still has a long journey before becoming law. It needs to pass out of a state-senate committee and the house bill also needs to advance to a floor vote. If signed into law, the bill would take effect in October. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
