Latest news with #TampaBay-area
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida man faces 20 years in prison for scamming customers out of $1.3M, leaving them with unfinished pools
Putting a pool in your backyard is a major decision — costing upwards of $100,000, according to HomeGuide — that inevitably involves disruption. But for Tampa Bay-area clients of Olympus Pools, the cost and disruption were far more than they bargained for. As WFLA News Channel 8 reports, hundreds were left with nothing but holes in their backyards and bank accounts, their money swindled by Olympus Pools' former owner James Staten. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) In May, he was sentenced to 20 years of prison followed by 30 years of probation — found guilty of 35 felony counts, including multiple counts of grand theft and contractor fraud. 'The sentence in this case is based on the fact that, out of all the testimony, you willfully ruined people's lives,' Judge Mary Handsel said during the sentencing. At the hearing, the prosecutor read victim impact statements to convey just how much damage Staten caused beyond unfinished pools, including this one: 'James Staten stole nearly $25,000 from us, leaving us with an unfinished pool and a shattered sense of security. Because of his actions we were forced to dip into our 401k to complete the work, setting back not just our retirement but also our daughter's college fund.' Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it In addition to his prison sentence, Staten must pay more than $1 million in restitution to be distributed to victims. He's also barred from owning a business or having any credit cards while he's on probation. At one time, Staten's business — Lutz, Florida-based Olympus Pools — claimed to be the largest pool builder in the state. But Staten shut down the company in July 2021 amid a slew of complaints and what Staten called 'constant negative media coverage.' Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation fined Staten $1.4 million and forced him to surrender his contracting licence. Later that same year, he and his wife filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to prosecutors, Staten collected money from clients despite knowing their pools were unlikely to be built. He used $1.3 million of his clients' money to fund his lifestyle. 'He was stealing money from a lot of us,' former Olympus client Toni Rosier told WFLA. In addition to receiving their fraction of the restitution funding, some former clients may qualify to receive a portion of their money back through the Florida Homeowners' Construction Recovery Fund. However, the amount payable is capped and is unlikely to reimburse many clients for the full amount they lost. So, what steps can you take to prevent this from happening to you? Watch out for contractors who solicit door-to-door because they 'are in the area' or 'have materials left over from a previous job,' the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns. Get multiple quotes for your project and don't rush into a decision. Before making a final decision, verify the contractor's references — and call them. Many people ask for references from previous clients and then fail to call them. Also check Better Business Bureau reports. Confirm that your contractor is licensed and insured. You can check the license with local or state regulators and ask the contractor for proof of insurance. Also look for a contractor who's a member of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) and ask if they provide a warranty or guarantee. Be vigilant of contractors who pressure you to commit, only accept cash, demand full payment upfront or want you to borrow from a lender they recommend. Also beware if they ask you to get the permits. Get estimates and contracts in writing. The contract should include a timeline, a detailed cost breakdown, procedures for managing changes to the project and steps for resolving disputes. If things go wrong, keep detailed written records of conversations and events. Set up a payment plan contingent on work milestones being completed and don't pay in full upfront. Monitor expenses throughout the project to make sure they align with the estimate and ask for a receipt as proof of full payment once the contract is completed and paid for. Once the project starts, watch out for subcontractors who contact you directly for payment, have frequent or excessive unexpected expenses and materials that are lower quality than what was agreed to in the estimate. Lack of activity at the job site is another red flag. It may seem time-consuming to assess potential contractors and keep on top of their work, but this extra work could end up saving a lot of heartache — and your savings. Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Fox Sports
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Danny Jansen homers and drives in 4 runs to help the Rays to a 6-3 win over the Braves
Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Danny Jansen hit his first home run of the season and drove in four runs, Christopher Morel also homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3 on Friday night. Jansen, who had one hit in his first 27 at-bats through the Rays' first 12 games, hit a two-run homer on a first-pitch sinker from Bryce Elder in the fourth inning, scoring Kameron Misner. In his next at-bat in the sixth, the 29-year-old catcher hit an RBI single to center and added a ground-rule double in the eighth that scored another run. Morel hit a solo shot in the sixth and finished with three hits. Rays starter Taj Bradley (2-0) struggled to get through the first, needing 32 pitches to get through the inning and allowing one run. Atlanta's Matt Olson drove in Austin Riley with a single to give the Braves a 1-0 lead before Bradley struck out Bryan De La Cruz and Jarred Kelenic with the bases loaded to end the threat. Bradley worked six innings and limited Atlanta to one run on five hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts. The Braves, who didn't arrive at their Tampa Bay-area hotel until 4:45 a.m. after a rain-delayed, extra-inning win over Philadelphia on Thursday night, tried to rally late. The Braves hit two homers off Edwin Uceta in the eighth. Marcell Ozuna launched a 425-foot shot to left-center field with one out. Ozzie Albies took advantage of the short porch in right for his second homer of the season. Elder (0-1) took the loss, allowing nine hits and five runs with four strikeouts. Atlanta (3-10) lost its eighth straight road game and became the first National League team to reach the 10-loss mark. Key moment Right after the Rays had a run taken away on an overturned call at the plate, catcher Jansen hit his 358-foot, two-run shot to left. Key stat Bradley struck out seven batters, pushing him past the 300 mark with 304 career strikeouts. Up next Atlanta sends RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (0-2, 5.19) against Tampa Bay's RHP Drew Rassmussen (1-0, 1.38) on Saturday. ___ AP MLB: recommended
Associated Press
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Danny Jansen homers and drives in 4 runs to help the Rays to a 6-3 win over the Braves
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Danny Jansen hit his first home run of the season and drove in four runs, Christopher Morel also homered and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3 on Friday night. Jansen, who had one hit in his first 27 at-bats through the Rays' first 12 games, hit a two-run homer on a first-pitch sinker from Bryce Elder in the fourth inning, scoring Kameron Misner. In his next at-bat in the sixth, the 29-year-old catcher hit an RBI single to center and added a ground-rule double in the eighth that scored another run. Morel hit a solo shot in the sixth and finished with three hits. Rays starter Taj Bradley (2-0) struggled to get through the first, needing 32 pitches to get through the inning and allowing one run. Atlanta's Matt Olson drove in Austin Riley with a single to give the Braves a 1-0 lead before Bradley struck out Bryan De La Cruz and Jarred Kelenic with the bases loaded to end the threat. Bradley worked six innings and limited Atlanta to one run on five hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts. The Braves, who didn't arrive at their Tampa Bay-area hotel until 4:45 a.m. after a rain-delayed, extra-inning win over Philadelphia on Thursday night, tried to rally late. The Braves hit two homers off Edwin Uceta in the eighth. Marcell Ozuna launched a 425-foot shot to left-center field with one out. Ozzie Albies took advantage of the short porch in right for his second homer of the season. Elder (0-1) took the loss, allowing nine hits and five runs with four strikeouts. Atlanta (3-10) lost its eighth straight road game and became the first National League team to reach the 10-loss mark. Key moment Right after the Rays had a run taken away on an overturned call at the plate, catcher Jansen hit his 358-foot, two-run shot to left. Key stat Bradley struck out seven batters, pushing him past the 300 mark with 304 career strikeouts. Up next Atlanta sends RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (0-2, 5.19) against Tampa Bay's RHP Drew Rassmussen (1-0, 1.38) on Saturday. ___ AP MLB:
Miami Herald
13-03-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Condo board members resigning after stricter reserve rules, causing chaos
Serving as a voluntary member of a community association's board of directors has often been called a thankless job. Those sentiments have become more evident with the growing levels of discord at many communities due to rising insurance costs and new state requirements for structural inspections and reserves, put in place after the partial collapse of Champlain Towers in Surfside in 2021. Sudden resignations of entire boards of directors have been leaving some communities in extraordinarily difficult situations. Two cases of boards of directors resigning at Tampa Bay-area communities made headlines last summer. A July report by ABC Action News in Tampa chronicled how the sudden exodus of HOA directors at the On Top of the World retirement community essentially rendered the association temporarily defunct. It could not proceed with any day-to-day business with only one member left on its nine-person board. The community called a special meeting to appoint four new directors to bring the total to five, which met the required quorum and allowed the board to continue performing its duties. Two of the departing directors felt the vitriol and personal attacks by residents had become too much to bear, the station reported. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office was called in to investigate several online posts, including some urging residents to 'storm the [board] meeting' and attend it 'armed and loaded.' A few weeks earlier in June, Villas of Carillon residents near St. Petersburg were informed via email that the HOA's entire board of directors had resigned, effective immediately, the CBS affiliate, reported. Their resignation came after the owners successfully postponed a board vote over a special assessment for $60,000 per unit stemming from the results of a structural integrity reserve study. The station chronicled how more than 100 owners packed a hotel ballroom to vote on the assessment, asserting the board was not following the proper procedures. 'In a surprise turn, the board and property management company allowed a motion to postpone going to a vote, and everyone shouted 'Aye.' Meeting adjourned,' the station reported. Last month, at Grenadier Lakes at Welleby in Sunrise, the HOA's board of directors also abruptly resigned, leaving owners with no way to access the association's funds to pay a $20,000 insurance bill, CBS4 Miami reported. Residents scrambled to raise enough money to cover the bill in less than 24 hours, and they launched an online fundraiser to secure additional funds to cover the next month's payment. The owners also filed an emergency motion asking Broward Circuit Court to grant them the power to elect a new board so they can access the HOA's funds and pay for such essential expenses. Florida lawmakers have enacted laws in recent years aiming to increase transparency in community association governance and board member accountability, and to require milestone inspections and funding of structural-integrity reserves. Those new mandates, together with the financial burden of rising premiums for required insurance, have created significantly increased costs for many associations that are passed onto members. READ MORE: Florida's Surfside law helps developers as condo owners face spiking fees and foreclosures As a result, tensions have grown due to owners being skeptical of their governing boards, and directors exasperated by the cynicism of their neighbors. This has led to increased resignations by directors and greater reluctance of others to volunteer for board service. Given all the upheaval, many are calling for legislative fixes to provide some relief. The state's lawmakers should facilitate emergency votes to elect new directors after resignations of complete boards; provide for incentives for insurers to lower premiums for associations; create loan programs for associations facing increased costs; and expand the training and certification of association directors. As these recent cases illustrate, mass resignations that leave associations without a functioning board can lead to significant legal, financial and administrative challenges as well as increased costs. Plus, the resigning directors who refuse to provide for some sort of transition could be considered to be in breach of their fiduciary duties. Florida law requires community associations to maintain a functioning board of directors, and their governing bylaws typically spell out the process for elections or appointments of new board members following resignations. With all the turmoil that many communities are experiencing, and in the absence of legislative fixes to address the mounting strains, directors and managers would be well advised to consult with qualified and experienced association attorneys to review the procedures prescribed by their documents and consider possible changes to help avoid the repercussions of a sudden mass exodus by all their directors. Roberto C. Blanch, a shareholder with the South Florida law firm of Siegfried Rivera, focuses on community association law. He is board certified as an expert in association law by The Florida Bar. Contact him at RBlanch@ 305-442-3334.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida bill aims to test-run phone ban in schools
The Brief Florida Senate Bill 1296 would launch a pilot program studying the potential effects of a ban on phone use during the school day. Supporters argue that phones are a major distraction and lead to behavioral issues. There are concerns, though, including student safety along with enforcement. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A new bill advancing in the Florida Legislature could disrupt the way students use their phones at school. Big picture view Senate Bill 1296, backed by State Sen. Danny Burgess, would launch a pilot program to see what happens when students are required to keep their phones put away during the school day. The proposed legislation comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a separate law in May 2023 restricting the use of all wireless communication devices in public school classrooms, requiring that they must be powered off during instructional time and placed in an area designated by the teacher. State lawmakers on Wednesday sent the measure to three key Senate committees: Education Pre-K - 12; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and Rules. If it moves forward, the legislation would take effect on July 1, 2025. READ: SpaceX Starship test ends in explosion off Florida's coast: What we know Dig deeper The bill calls on the education commissioner to team up with six school districts – two small, two medium, and two large – to roll out and study a policy that bans students from using their phones throughout the school day. The Florida Department of Education would then gather data on how this affects student behavior and grades, delivering a report to lawmakers by Dec. 1, 2026. This trial run is intended to help decide whether a broader statewide ban makes sense. Sen. Burgess, a Republican representing Florida's 23rd District, introduced the measure in late February as part of a growing conversation about the impact of smartphones in schools. Supporters argue that phones are a major distraction and lead to behavioral issues, while opponents worry about restricting communication between students and their families. Click to open this PDF in a new window. Similar policies have been debated in other states, with some districts opting for partial bans and others going all-in. Florida's approach would be one of the most comprehensive test programs yet, aiming to see if a full-day phone ban makes a difference. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Local perspective Locally, some Tampa Bay-area school districts have already taken steps to curb phone use. Hillsborough County Public Schools implemented a policy restricting phone use during class, while Pasco County Schools has also tightened its rules, requiring students to keep devices silenced and out of sight during instructional time. Pinellas County Schools has made similar moves. These measures align with a growing trend of limiting distractions in the classroom, and SB 1296 could push those efforts even further. READ:'Trooper's Law': Dog abandoned on I-75 during Hurricane Milton evacuations inspires Florida bill The other side Not everyone is onboard with the idea. One of the main concerns is student safety. Some parents and educators argue that limiting phone access could make it harder for students to reach their families in an emergency, like a school lockdown or a natural disaster, although the legislation does call for the report to address such concerns. Enforcement is another sticking point. Critics doubt whether schools have the staff and resources to make sure the rules are followed fairly and consistently. What's more, some educators use smartphones as learning tools in the classroom. There's concern that banning them completely could disrupt tech-based learning strategies and limit access to useful educational apps. What they're saying FOX 13 viewers are sharing mixed reactions to the proposal. "It's a different world now. My kids were involved in lockdowns where the SWAT team and police were charging up the stairs. They need their phones in their possession. Make and set rules for how they are used and allowed in the class, not taken away," said Teresa Green, a mother who lives in Tampa. "I don't think they should be banned in high school. Middle school there should be limitations. Elementary school, they should be banned. Elementary kids do need them at school. Middle school, as a former teacher I know there are opportunities where teachers can incorporate them into lessons. High school, same as middle school and communication. There should be guidelines but not banned," said Jenny Duckworth, who lives in Bradenton. "I work at a middle school and sometimes it's a futile struggle to enforce the cellphone ban, but that's why it's a good law. It clearly is an addiction for these kids. Some teachers do use it as a teaching tool and that's the only time it should be used," said Adrienne Zampella, a middle school staff member. "Yes (phones should be banned at schools). We did perfectly fine without them. All classrooms have a phone and an intercom," said Lori Sowers, who lives in Brooksville. What's next As the bill makes its way through the legislative process, expect plenty of debate. Lawmakers are expected to gather and weigh input from educators, parents, and student advocacy groups before making a final decision. The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Matthew McClellan. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
