A continuous Pure Federal prosecutors of the Department of Justice have influenced a criminal case against a businessman from Florida, accused of escaping children with special needs.
The latest firing wave consisted of prosecutor who was helping lead Criminal case against Leo Govoni, whose plan, led a fund of about $ 100 million from a fund to allegedly help people with disabilities. Michael Gordon, who also took over a series of American capital riot prosecution, was one of the recent weeks, among the several prosecutors fired, CBS News has learned. Gordon recently handled the formal duties to prosecute Govoni’s case in Florida.
Critics say Pass accused The Trump Administration demanding political vengeance for the cases of US Barking by firing at least one administrator working on prosecutors, investigators and cases. The Department of Justice also fired investigators and prosecutors, who allegedly incorrectly investigated the records of President Trump by former Special Advocate Jack Smith and helped investigate efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
More than 20 total firing Confirmed by CBS News. The Department of Justice has not commented on firing.
Gordon’s dismissal risks complicated the timeline for the Govoni case. Rape. Kathy Castor, is a Florida Democrat, Justice department request To reversed the course and resume Gordon,
Castor said in a statement, “Thousands of Govoni’s thousands of fraud number victims – painful and personal stories.
Govoni is accused of being part of the plan to embezzle money from an organization, which was established to help managing money for people with special needs. Justice Department Said Earlier this year, “The Defendants conspired to use the funds of customers with special needs as an individual piggy bank, stealing $ 100 million for the weakest members of our society, which were to enrich themselves.”
A mother, Empero Pereles, whose son Xavier needs to take care of blindness and severe encephalitis, said that her family lost $ 2 million in the plan. Paralaces told CBS News that she was “surprised” by Gordon’s firing.
“These victims already have difficult life and futures. Delay in the legal process is harmful to the good of the victims,” said Pararals.
Florida’s Ribka Boman, whose son, is suffering from a serious seizure disorder, said that she was lost in more than $ 1 million for her son due to Govoni’s alleged plan.
Boman said, “It took a long time to arrest him. People have done a lot and do not want to delay.”
Govoni was accused of plotting several cases of wire and mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy and fraud. He has not yet admitted to a petition, and a meaning is scheduled for Thursday. Govoni’s lawyers asked him to release pre-examination, given that he was described as “no pre-criminal history” and was described as “67 years old in poor physical health”. CBS News has reached his lawyer for comments.
An accountant for Govoni’s company Was also charged As part of the alleged conspiracy, and a not-cutti petition was filed in his case.
Prosecutors Said Govoni established the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration in 2000 and helped manage trusts with about $ 200 million and more than 2,000 special needs in the fund.
Prosecutors Solemn Govoni used the organization’s accounts as “Slush Fund”. Federal investigators stated that Govoni said “purchasing real estate, traveling through private jets, funding liquor furnaces, depositing in their personal bank accounts and paying personal loans.”
Last month, in a series of letters filed with the federal court in Tampa, a parent of a person with special requirements wrote, “I wish, you can see in the eyes of my son and many other medical needy victims and tell them that you are going to do the right thing and keep the man behind bars where he is.”
Another parents wrote, “Please do not let this terrible criminal get out of jail. He is clever and certainly the money is hidden and if there is a plan to hide when released. All his victims have breathed a sigh of relief when we heard that he was finally arrested. Any of us has also felt the first relief because it has happened.”
Another victim wrote, “The one who steals the children suffering in spinach care? Disabled? The weakest among us? Someone who has no conscience, compassion, or kindness.”
Gordon has been listed in the court records as a Tampa -based prosecutor for the Department of Justice. Like several federal prosecutors, he brought matters related to January 6 – which was the largest criminal investigation with over 1,500 counterbators in American history. A few hours after Mr. Trump returned to the post in January, he forgives almost everyone convicted in a riot and ordered the justice department to give up the allegations against any remaining defendants.
Gordon There was a role in prosecuting One of the most famous January 6 defendants, Ray Apps, which was At the center of the principles of conspiracy Claiming-Any proof-he was a government-roped agitator. Apps convicted disorganized conduct on a restricted grounds and sentenced to probation.
The Department of Justice refused to comment on Gordon’s firing and its possible impact on Govoni’s prosecution. Gordon did not give a comment to CBS News.
Many of the prosecutors who were fired were identified by a “weapons work group” established by the Trump administration to review the biden-era law enforcement policies, CBS News. Was reported earlierOther prosecutors took over on January, 6 cases recently resigned from their posts with justice department before firing.
Greg Rosen, who was the head of the agency’s capital seas section, departed last month. In a June 3 interview with CBS News, Rosen criticized the initial wave of firing.
“One impressed for the freedom of the department to see those talented prosecutors marginalized or removed from the office,” Rosen said.
Patty Hartman, a former public affair expert for the US Attorney Office in Columbia district, was fired last week. Hartman, who helped distribute the press release about the January 6 cases, accused the Department of Justice of introducing a wave of vengeance against the employees who were part of the Capital siege case. Hartman told CBS News that he was upset with a series of dismissal of colleagues.
Hartman told CBS News, “I am still very proud of all of them, even those who were removed, because they were not worth it.”
