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New York Post
24-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
2 Florida men are accused of stealing millions from trust fund for people with special needs
Two Florida men have been indicted in what prosecutors describe as a scheme to steal more than $100 million from a nonprofit that managed funds for people with disabilities and special needs. Federal authorities this week unsealed an indictment charging Leo J. Govoni, 67, of Clearwater, and John Witeck, 60, of Tampa, with multiple counts including mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted on all counts, they face decades in prison. 4 The center filed for bankruptcy more than a year ago after discovering it was missing $100 million. FOX 13 Tampa Advertisement The case involves one of the nation's largest administrators of special needs trusts, which are designed to manage funds for people with special needs. The Center for Special Needs Trust Administration in Clearwater, which Govoni co-founded 25 years ago, managed more than 2,000 accounts containing about $200 million for people in Florida and around the nation. Clients were promised that the nonprofit would protect and invest their money, prosecutors say. But Govoni and Witeck, an accountant who worked with Govoni, used the nonprofit as a 'slush fund' to enrich themselves, court papers state. 4 Mugshot of Leo Govoni Sr., the founder of the Center for Special Needs Trust. Pinellas County Sheriffâs Office Advertisement Govoni is accused of using money from the nonprofit to travel on private jets, pay living expenses for his friends and family and live a lavish lifestyle 'complete with luxury boxes at Tampa Bay Buccaneers games and the Kentucky Derby,' prosecutors said in court records. No lawyers for Govoni or Witeck are listed in court files. Two lawyers listed as representing Govoni in a separate bankruptcy case did not immediately respond to phone and email messages requesting comment on Tuesday. 4 Gregory Kehoe, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida announces the federal charges in a fraud investigation against Leo Govoni during a press conference at the United States Attorney's Office on Monday, June 23, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. AP Advertisement A third lawyer who has represented the nonprofit in the bankruptcy case didn't immediately respond to messages. Prosecutors accuse the men of concealing the fraud through complex financial transactions, and sending fraudulent account statements with false balances to people with special needs and their families. The nonprofit filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and 'disclosed that more than $100 million in client-beneficiary funds was missing from its trust accounts,' federal prosecutors said in a statement announcing the indictment. 4 Prosecutors accuse the men of concealing the fraud through complex financial transactions, and sending fraudulent account statements with false balances to people with special needs and their families. FOX 13 Tampa Advertisement 'The fraud alleged in this nationwide scheme is unfathomable,' U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe said in the statement. The case was investigated by numerous federal agencies, including the FBI, the IRS and the Social Security Administration. 'Not only were the organization's resources drained, but the accused subjects betrayed the trust of the community and ultimately bankrupted a lifeline for vulnerable families,' said Jose Perez, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Comedian George Lowe, voice of Space Ghost, dies at 67
Comedian and voice actor George Lowe, who is well-known as the voice of Space Ghost on "Space Ghost Coast to Coast," died on March 2. He was 67. Lowe's representative confirmed the news toDeadline. The entertainer's longtime friend "Marvelous Marvin" Boone paid tribute to him on Facebook. "I'm beyond devastated," Boone wrote. "My Zobanian brother and best friend for over 40 years, George Lowe, has passed away after a long illness. A part of me had also died. He was a supremely talented Artist and Voice actor." The backstory George Lowe got his first radio job with local station WWJB when he was 15 years old. He did some voice-over work for TBWS and Cartoon Network in the 1980s to mid-1990s before getting his lead role of Space Ghost in 1994 with the premiere of"Space Ghost Coast to Coast on Cartoon Network." RELATED:Singer Roberta Flack dies at 88 Space Ghost was a parody of talk shows with live-action celebrity guests, hosted by the Hanna Barbera character Space Ghost, which aired from 1994 to 1999 on Cartoon Network. The show later returned in 2001, airing on Adult Swim's late-night programming block until 2004, Deadline reported. Deadline noted that Lowe also voiced Space Ghost in the "Space Ghost Coast to Coast" spinoff "Cartoon Planet," "Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, "and "The Brak Show," where Lowe also was a regular on the program as the voice of Dad, and Robot Chicken, and others. In February 2024, Lowe voiced Space Ghost in an episode of Max's "Jellystone." Dig deeper George Lowe had a passion for art and had a penchant for searching for the next work of art to add to his sprawling collection. The Dunedin, Florida native has an impressive art collection spanning most of his home, with over 700 pieces. FOX 13 Tampa reported that Lowe was also a well-known artist himself, and his interest started when he was young. The Source Information for this story was provided by Deadline and FOX 13 Tampa. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.
