Latest news with #JacksonvilleUniversity
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Entrepreneur pleads to laundering feds' 'drug money' through dormant Jacksonville businesses
An entrepreneur behind an unfinished Arlington restaurant pleaded guilty Wednesday to money-laundering charges carrying a potential for up to 40 years of prison time. Mauricio Chahine, 52, admitted in a plea agreement to laundering bags of cash from supposed cocaine traffickers who turned out to be undercover federal agents. Chahine told the agents he had been handling people's money since the 1990s and could launder it domestically or in any of nine foreign countries, from the Netherlands to China, said a plea agreement he signed. He mentioned working with people in Colombia, Venezuela and Panama, the agreement said. Elsewhere: China-based crypto exchange founder arrested in $700M money laundering operation The agent agreed to Chahine's 12% fee and told him to keep the money's movements domestic, court records said. Chahine routed some of the supposed drug money through bank accounts of companies whose state records list him as the only officer, according to the plea agreement. One account was for Arby's Seafood and Chicken Inc., the name of a lifeless restaurant Chahine had been working to reopen at 2009 University Blvd. North, near Jacksonville University. Another was for Albarakah International Grocery Inc., a now-closed business at 1050 Arlington Road North that Chahine helped fund in 2023 with a Kickstarter campaign describing the 'euphoria grocery store' his Brazilian/Lebanese family operated offering flavors from patrons' home countries. Chahine, who was born in Brazil, told U.S. Magistrate Monte C. Richardson he has been an American citizen since 2008. Court records described agents giving Chahine $217,975 in four batches between May and July 2024 that he had to return in some form that looked legitimate. The plea agreement said Chahine asked the agent to draft fake invoices to look like the agent had bought restaurant equipment from Arby's and the grocery, so Chahine could wire money as "payment." Except for the handling fee, money was returned by wire transfers to a bank account that Internal Revenue Service investigators were using for a joint investigation with the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the agreement. A tipster gave DEA Chahine's name while that agency and IRS were investigating "a large-scale money laundering organization operating in Jacksonville," court records filed in 2024 said. Chahine, who was indicted in November 2024, pleaded guilty to two of the five counts he was charged with. Both were specific money laundering counts, each punishable by up to 20 years behind bars, and can be imposed consecutively. Each can also carry a fine up to $250,000, for a total of $500,000. Chahine's plea agreement requires him to forfeit $12,000, representing money he received from the crime. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Owner of dormant Jacksonville restaurant pleads in money laundering sting
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jacksonville University music students to play final concerts
Jacksonville University music students will bid their final farewell in a series of concerts. The performances mark the last of the university music programs that are being cut. Action News Jax has been reporting on the elimination of university degree programs and the layoffs of 40 faculty members since it was first announced on April 15. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] You can read our previous reports here: Jacksonville University faculty issues 'no confidence' vote in President Cost after decision on cuts 'Gaslighting us': Jacksonville University professor slams school president over layoffs 'Every university's making hard choices': JU sunsetting programs, reducing expenses Imani Waters will graduate this spring, but said she planned to stay for another year before she learned her degree program was being terminated. Now she is gearing up for the last of the university's concerts and says emotions are high. 'It's a very bittersweet feeling,' she said. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] On Wednesday, Jacksonville University will play its final orchestra concert at 7:30. The concert will be live-streamed at this link: The university's choir will host its final performance the following night on Thursday. The choir concert starts at 7:30, too. Concert organizers suggest early arrival at the Terry Concert Hall. They are expecting seats to fill quickly. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
To be 'Future Focused' for students, what majors will Jacksonville University leave behind?
Jacksonville University startled some alumni when it outlined plans April 15 to retire 'under-enrolled' fields of study and focus on majors in high demand. But at a school that until now boasted more than 100 majors, minors and study programs, what programs made the cut? The university's 'Future Focused' initiative made a list of what will stay and what's slated to end after current students complete their degrees. College of Healthcare Sciences will have majors in exercise science; health science; and nursing. of Business & Technology will have majors in accounting; aviation flight operations; aviation management; business administration; business analytics; communication; computer science; cybersecurity; electrical engineering; finance; management; marketing; mechanical engineering; and sport business. Linda Berry Stein College of Arts and Sciences will have majors in biodiversity; biology; biochemistry; cellular and molecular biology; chemistry; dance; education for instruction; English; economics; history; media arts (includes animation, film, game design and visual design); marine science, biology track; mathematics; physics; political science; psychology; sociology; sports in society; sustainability, geography and environmental planning; and visual arts (ceramics, illustration and photography). Future Focused: A Message From The President Jacksonville University announced today that the premier private university has reimagined its academic offerings to propel student success and academic excellence, meet community needs and create long-term financial sustainability. The University continues its commitment to producing graduates who are critical thinkers, well-qualified in their fields and ready to solve real-world challenges. This initiative was introduced by administrative and academic leadership to students, faculty and staff across campus details here: Posted by Jacksonville University on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences will have graduate-level applied health sciences programs in clinical mental health counseling; speech language pathology; medical sciences; and doctor of occupational therapy. In dentistry, there will be programs in orthodontics and implantology. In nursing, there will be MSN and DNP programs in advanced practice; adult gerontology nurse practitioner; family nurse practitioner; psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner; leadership in healthcare systems; clinical nurse educator; nursing informatics; MSN-MBA dual degree; RN to BSN and RN to MSN. Davis College of Business and Technology will have MBA programs in general, management track and accounting and finance tracks as well as degrees in applied business analytics and organizational leadership. Linda Berry Stein College of Arts and Sciences will have graduate programs in choreography; public policy; and marine science, biology track. JU's will continue all its offerings and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine's LECOM at JU, a four-year medical school, is slated to open as planned in fall 2026, JU said in a release about the changes in majors. Current students 'will be taught out through a program that fully complies with our university accreditation,' JU says in a four-page fact sheet about the changes in studies. But things will be different for incoming students. Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences is ending its respiratory care BS completion major; its minor in communication sciences and disorders; and its play therapy certificate. Davis College of Business and Technology is ending its majors in engineering management, FinTech and healthcare administration; its MBA tracks in fintech, health informatics, healthcare management and portfolio management; and its certificate programs in business foundations; business law; executive thought leadership; and FinTech. The current (which will be merging with the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts & Humanities) is ending its education for instruction tracks for community and ESOL; its data science major and minor; its social sciences major; and its marine science oceanography track. The Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts & Humanities is ending its majors in philosophy and music (jazz and commercial music, music education, music technology, music therapy, music performance, musical theatre and music composition); majors and minors in theatre and world languages; and its MFA in visual arts as well as its art history and glass concentrations in visual arts. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: What majors will Jacksonville University cut as it refocuses for future?
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
JU President facing backlash following cuts to staff and programs
Jacksonville University President Tim Cost is receiving backlash from faculty and students following this week's financial initiative announcement that led to some faculty members out of a job and several students changing their major. On Tuesday, the university announced its cutting controlled expenses by about 10%, removing programs that affected about 100 students, and terminated 40 faculty students as part of its 'Future Focused' initiative. In a video posted on social media, Cost says 'It's a plan we've been working on for more than six months, through a rigorous, collaborative process involving all the right, highly engaged groups on our campus and in our community.' That morning, students received an email from the university, asking them to attend a meeting with leadership. Students initially thought the email was fake after some students were given a different meeting location than others and a warning that says the email came from an external source. Staff and students say they were not warned of the changes. 'Nobody in our faculty knew this was coming. Our head of the department didn't know this was coming,' says JU student Nelson Davila, to our news partner Action News Jax. One terminated faculty member who wished to remain anonymous, told Action News Jax, 'I really believed that this was a place that believed in its mission. And now it is so completely changing that mission. And what's worse is they are gaslighting us into pretending like this has always been the plan.' The Facebook page for the JU's music department, one of the programs greatly affected by the cuts, called out Cost's comments about the cuts affecting about 100 students, saying, 'Music had 123 majors and 21 minors. That equals 144 students.' On Wednesday, students gathered to protest the changes, while the faculty came together to censure President Cost and hold a vote of no confidence. The faculty cited multiple issues for the vote including termination of tenured faculty without cause, breach of debt covenant, and failure to involve faculty in many decisions. One professor, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Action News Jax's Ben Becker, 'JU has been operating like a monarchy, and the faculty are tired of being the peasants, especially while the king i s making terrible decisions, and we're the ones paying the price.' The resolution was sent to the Jacksonville Board of Trustees. In a statement, Board Chair Matt Kane says that on the censure and no confidence vote, 'The Jacksonville University Board of Trustees respects the faculty's choice to express their opinions under the shared governance structure of our University. The Board of Trustees remains fully confident in President Cost's strategic leadership and decision-making. The Board continues to work closely with the President and other senior leaders to ensure Jacksonville University's long-term financial sustainability and future success.' Meanwhile President Cost says, in a statement, 'I respect the faculty's role in our shared governance structure as defined by our University and faculty bylaws, and I appreciate that we have a structure that invites them to share their perspective. I've valued the honest and spirited dialogue with our faculty throughout my 12 years at Jacksonville University. While we may not always agree on every decision, I believe we share a deep commitment to Jacksonville University's mission and to the success of our students. Together with the senior leadership team, we remain focused on the work ahead — strengthening our institution and advancing the strategic goals we've set together.' We reached out to President Cost for comment. We were told he was unavailable at the time of this post.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jacksonville University faculty issues ‘no confidence' vote in President Cost after decision on cuts
A majority of Jacksonville University's faculty who attended Wednesday night's faculty meeting issued a vote of 'no confidence' in President Tim Cost. This comes after Cost on Tuesday announced major changes for JU, including the layoff of 40 faculty members, the reduction of undergraduate degree offerings from 60 to 37, and a decrease of graduate degree programs from 23 to 15. Related: 'Gaslighting us': Jacksonville University professor slams school president over layoffs Sources told Action News Jax's Ben Becker that faculty members brought up the following issues regarding Cost: Termination of tenured faculty without cause Ignoring numerous faculty proposals, requests for transparency, clarifications, etc. Years of structural financial mismanagement under his leadership Breach of debt covenant Warning signs dating back to 2016 that Cost failed to address Lack of oversight for the CFO, whom he (supposedly) met regularly Failure to involve faculty in many important decisions, especially ones that the university's governing documents specifically say faculty should be heavily involved in Pattern of unilateral decision making, disregard for established governance practices A professor who did not want to be named told Becker, 'JU has been operating like a monarchy, and the faculty are tired of being the peasants, especially while the king is making terrible decisions, and we're the ones paying the price.' [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The resolution was submitted by the Faculty Assembly to the Jacksonville University Board of Trustees. Board Chair Matt Kane responded to the vote Thursday: 'The Jacksonville University Board of Trustees respects the faculty's choice to express their opinions under the shared governance structure of our University. The Board of Trustees remains fully confident in President Cost's strategic leadership and decision-making. The Board continues to work closely with the President and other senior leaders to ensure Jacksonville University's long-term financial sustainability and future success.' President Tim Cost himself responded to the resolution of no confidence and censure: 'I respect the faculty's role in our shared governance structure as defined by our University and faculty bylaws, and I appreciate that we have a structure that invites them to share their perspective. I've valued the honest and spirited dialogue with our faculty throughout my 12 years at Jacksonville University. While we may not always agree on every decision, I believe we share a deep commitment to Jacksonville University's mission and to the success of our students. Together with the senior leadership team, we remain focused on the work ahead — strengthening our institution and advancing the strategic goals we've set together.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
