Latest news with #FloridaDepartmentofAgriculture&ConsumerServices
Miami Herald
18-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
State denies license renewal of Broward mover accused of fraud, extortion
The Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services has denied license renewal for moving companies linked to a South Florida man who has left a trail of consumer complaints up and down the state. And, a report out of the Orlando area says the Ag Department also has filed an administrative complaint against Shawn Thompson's companies. An online search of the Ag Department site says intrastate moving license No. IM3311 for Thompson Nation Holdings was 'denied.' Thompson Nation Holdings also does business as Pompano Beach's One Man One Van and Orlando's All Stars Moving and Storage; Next Door Relocation; Todays Move Movers; and Two Man One Truck Movers. That covers moving between counties inside the state (intrastate moving). None of the other 18 companies that trace back to Thompson have state movers license. A search of U.S. Department of Transportation licensing turns up no license for any of the Thompson companies for moving state to state (interstate moving). The above companies are the listed on the administrative complaint shown in a Monday report by Jeff Deal of Orlando's WFTV-Channel 9. Administrative complaints often start a discipline process. The Ag Department's punitive bite in these cases is limited to a cease-and-desist order with fines up to $5,000. When a Herald reporter texted and emailed questions about this to Thompson Sunday, he berated a reporter for contacting him for his response. These are the first state actions against Thompson's companies after years of customer complaints about extortion that starts with a low estimate; includes charging for packing services not requested; progresses to a cascade of new charges once the possessions were on the truck; and ended with the demand to pay the new charges or have their stuff taken to a storage unit for more extra charges. County courts in Orange and Miami-Dade counties entered judgments against Thompson, with Miami-Dade Judge Michael Barket flatly saying Thompson 'extorted' his client in a Miami to Gainesville move while being a 'direct participant in this unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent scheme.' Consumers have successfully gained those judgments. They've successfully sent complaints to the Better Business Bureau, Ag Department, Florida State Attorney's Office and various online forums. But, they've been unsuccessful in getting a state agency to take action against any of the companies that trace back to Thompson, an unincorporated Palm Beach County resident. Various other companies branch from those above. Including companies registered with the state under fictitious names, 18 active companies with addresses from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando trace back to Thompson. The layers of paper that conceal the connection to Thompson for consumers doing cursory checks provide a paper trail to Thompson for those who go a little deeper. As an example, Deal interviewed a Stellar Relocation customer who said his estimated $850 move turned into $3,400 once his goods were on the truck. Stellar Relocation is a fictitious name company owned by One Man One Van. One Man One Van's manager and registered agent: Shawn Thompson. Consumers feeling defrauded by moving companies or any other business regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture can file a complaint through the agency's website.
Miami Herald
05-02-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Sewage halted use of ‘all food processing' and ‘food equipment' at a Broward bakery
While a state inspector found few problems at a Lauderhill bakery on Tuesday, it took one major violation to stop work. 'All open food processing, food equipment and kitchen utensils' at D&R Best Bakery, 1442 N. State Rd. 7, got smacked with a Stop Use Order from Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services inspector Francis Odio. In the bakery's backroom, Odio saw a sewage overflow or leak under the grease trap next to the three-compartment sink. That counted as sewage improperly disposed. Reached by phone Wednesday morning, D&R's manager said the problem should be fixed later Wednesday or on Thursday. Here are some other things Inspector Odio put in the report: ▪ In the food service area, there wasn't any not water at a handwash sink. READ MORE: At Broward's last Fuddruckers, a roach on a prep table, loose garbage, ice machine mold ▪ There wasn't a splash guard between the handwash sink and the 'food displayed on the counter next to the coffee machine,' meaning the food could get hit with soap, water or dirt. ▪ Water leaked from the pipe under the sink. ▪ No mop sink, and D&R has 30 days to get one installed. ▪ 'A large container of cooking oil' sat on the floor next to the fryer. No container of oils or foods should be sitting directly on the floor.
