STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 18-19

Transcription

1 STATE OF FLORDA OFFCE OF THE GOVERNOR EXECUTVE ORDER NUMBER WHEREAS, Joy Cooper s presently servng as Mayor for the Cty of Hallandale Beach, Florda; and WHEREAS, on January 25, 2018, Joy Cooper was arrested for felony and msdemeanor charges n case number 2018CFOO 1021, n the Seventeenth Judcal Crcut of Florda, ncludng: volaton of campagn contrbuton lmts, a thrd-degree felony under secton 06.08(7)(b ), Florda Statutes; offcal msconduct, a thrd-degree felony under secton , Florda Statutes; money launderng (more than $300, less than $20,000), a thrd-degree felony under secton (5)(a), Florda Statutes; and solctng a campagn contrbuton n a government buldng, a frst-degree msdemeanor under secton 06.15( 4), Florda Statutes; and WHEREAS, secton (2), Florda Statutes, provdes that the Governor may suspend from offce any elected muncpal offcer who s arrested for a felony or for a msdemeanor related to the dutes of offce; and WHEREAS, t s n the best nterests of the resdents of the Cty of Hallandale Beach, and the ctzens of the State of Florda, that Joy Cooper be mmedately suspended from the publc offce, whch she now holds, upon the grounds set forth n ths executve order. NOW, THEREFORE,, RCK SCOTT, Governor of Florda, pursuant to secton , Florda Statutes, fnd as follows:

2 A. Joy Cooper s, and at all tmes materal hereto was, Mayor for the Cty of Hallandale Beach, Florda. B. The offce of Mayor for the Cty of Hallandale Beach, Florda, s wthn the purvew of the suspenson powers of the Governor, pursuant to secton , Florda Statutes. C. On January 25, 2018, Joy Cooper was arrested for felony and msdemeanor charges n case number 20 l 8CF001021, n the Seventeenth Judcal Crcut of Florda, ncludng: volaton of campagn contrbuton lmts, a thrd-degree felony under secton (7)(b), Florda Statutes; offcal msconduct, a thrddegree felony under secton , Florda Statutes; money launderng (more than $300, less than $20,000), a thrd-degree felony under secton (5)(a), Florda Statutes; and solctng a campagn contrbuton n a government buldng, a frst-degree msdemeanor under secton ( 4), Florda Statutes, as evdenced by the attached Warrant to Arrest and Affdavt to Anest fled n the Seventeenth Judcal Crcut of Florda, whch are ncorporated as f fully set forth n ths Executve Order. BENG FULLY ADVSED n the premses, and n accordance wth the Consttuton and the Laws of the State of Florda, ths Executve Order s ssued, effectve mmedately: Secton 1. Joy Cooper s suspended from the publc offce, whch she now holds, to wt: Mayor for the Cty of Hallandale Beach, Florda. Secton 2. Joy Cooper s prohbted from perfonnng any offcal act, duty, or functon of publc offce; from recevng any pay or allowance; and from beng enttled to any of

3 the emoluments or prvleges of publc offce durng the perod of ths suspenson, whch perod shall be from today, untl further Executve Order s ssued, or as otherwse provded by law. N TESTMONY WHEREOF, have hereunto set my hand and have caused the Great Seal of the State of Florda to be affxed at The Captol, Tallahassee, Florda, ths 26th day of January, CL~ RCK SCOTT, GOVERNOR ATTEST: ~AR~,.:::, l :-~ :;::» ~_,,_ ::"'" ):.> ~,, er,;~ (/)'! T l_._ rn-t -:.,- L --., o<f) ~; C) CJ-; co >'"""G

4 ..-.,-,-~-... ~~--~-"""""'--"""'"'"--""""""--""" """'-~ --- """ ~l!"l...""'... _"" "". -..""" "'" - ~ -:...~ ""..""! <l-,-~--r~ :; f*1.,.,, ' (; '---~ ~-..)._...,. _,, Docket No. Page _1.. 1!1'!11!1!1... N THE CRCUT/COUNTY COURT OF THE SEVENTEENTH JUDCAL 1 1: CRCUT, N AND FOR BROWARD COUNTY, FLORDA... f.: ST A TE OF FLORDA jo:: vs. JOY FRANCES COOPER WARRANT TO ARREST N THE NAME OF THE STATE OF FLORDA, TO ALL AND SNGULAR THE SHERFFS AND CONST ABLES OF THE STATE OF FLORDA: COUNT. *Solctng Campagn Contrbuton n a Government Buldng, 1 st Degree Msdemeanor*,. WHEREAS, nvestgator Kate Abrahamsen, D #1258, of the 1?'h Judcal Crcut State Attorney's Offce nvestgatons Dvson has ths day made oath before me that: On or about the 10th day of July, AD. 2012, n the County aforesad, one Joy Frances Cooper dd then and there unlawfully and.knowngly solct poltcal contrbutons whle n her offce, located wthn a buldng owned by a governmental entty, to wt: Hallandale Beach Cty Hall, contrary to Secton (4), 2012 Florda Statutes; and COUNT 2 *Volaton of Campagn Contrbuton Lmts, 3rd Degree Felony* On or about the 13th day of September, AD. 2012, n the County aforesad, one Joy Frances Cooper dd then and there unlawfully and knowngly accepted two or more campagn contrbutons from an ndvdual(s) exceedng the $500 campagn contrbuton lmt. Mayor Cooper wllngly accepted campagn contrbutons knowng that, n order to conceal the amount, t was gong to be funneled to her va $500 checks from people who were beng rembursed for ther contrbuton, to wt: Joy Cooper accepted multple '. monetary nstruments from Alan Koslow (ndvdual campagn contrbuton checks n the amoun_t of.$500 each) whch she knew to be an ndvdual monetary beneft from UCEs,. but dsgused to avod campagn fnan~e regulatons, contrary to Secton (7)(b)., 2012 Florda Statutes; and., - COUNT 3 ;- "Offcal Msconduct, 3rd Degree Felony* :?:? On or about the 10th day of August, A.O and the 1h Day of October, A.O , n the County aforesad, one Joy Frances Cooper whle a publc servant, to wt:! "... ~--

5 \ -.{Jr')') S f\-f\c) 1 L. Docket No. Page _f Mayor of the Cty of Hallandale Beach, Florda, dd then and there unlawfully and knowngly, and wth the corrupt ntent to obtan a beneft for herself, falsfy or cause another to falsfy an offcal record or document, to wt: Florda Department of State, Dvson of Electons, Campagn Treasurer's Reports for Joy Cooper, coverng the perods of August 10 th through September 14 th, 2012, September 15 th through September 28 \ 2012, and September 29 th through October 1h, 2012, all of whch were tme stamped as receved by the Cty of Hallandale, ndcatng Mayor Cooper had receved contrbutons from ndvduals when. n fact she knew the ndvduals were not the true source of the contrbutons, contrary to Secton , 2012 Florda Statutes; and ; - COUNT 4 L: *Money Launderng Act, 3rd Degree Felony*! j.,. On or about the 13.th day of September, AD. 2012, n the County aforesad, one Joy Frances Cooper dd then and there unlawfully and knowng that the property f. nvolved n a fnancal transacton, to wt: monetary nstruments receved from Alan Koslow, represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful actvty, to wt: the volaton of campagn contrbuton lmts pursuant to Secton , 2012.Florda Statutes, dd conduct or attempt to conduct such a fnancal transacton whch n fact nvolves the proceeds of specfed unlawful actvty, to wt: the volaton of campagn contrbuton lmts pursuant to Secton , 2012 Florda Statutes, wth the ntent to promote the l carryng on of specfed unlawful actvty, or knowng that the transacton s desgned n whole or n part to conceal or dsguse the nature, the locaton, the source, the! ownershp, or the control of the proceeds of specfed unlawful actvty, contrary to Secton , 2012 Florda Statutes, also known as The Florda Money Launderng : Act. j.. j. The offense(s) set forth n the foregong Warrant are contrary to the statute(s) n! such cas~ made and provded, and aganst the peace and dgnty of the State of Florda.!., Attached hereto and made a part hereof by ncorporaton s the Affdavt executed by.: j: Specal Agent Francs Vetere, Affant heren. ;.. l:. THESE ARE, THEREFORE, to command you forthwth to arrest the sad.joy Frances Cooper, and brng her before me to be dealt wth accordng to law. Gven under my hand and seal ths day of January A.O ?].,,. BROWARD certfy and correcf1'.llr-l,la WTNE on JAN :. j' l' j '!. r

6 .:.: t (.r _,- l, ): fu. -\,- l.j.j -~~ - ( 1 '( :...J C'>- '10 ~ <- N THE CRCUT COURT OF THE SEVENTEENTH JUDCAL CRCUT, N AN]) FOR BROW ARD COUNTY, FLORDA STATE OF FLORDA ; _._..~....,..: : t.. t k vs. Plantff, JOY FRANCES COOPER W/F, DOB: 5/14/1960 Defendant, AFFDAVT TO AR.REST, 1: :. BEFORE ME ~~ ~~ Judge of the Crcut r- Court n and for Broward County, personally came, nvestgator Kate Abrahamsen of th~ nvestgatons Dvson, 1?1h Judcal Crcut State Attorney's Offce n Broward County, who, after beng duly sworn, deposes and sad that begnnng on or about the 16th day of May, 2012 and contnung through on or about the 1?th day of October, 2012, n the County and State aforesad, one JOY FRANCES COOPER, dd commt the followng offenses: one (1) count of Solctng a Campagn Contrbuton n a Government Buldng, contrary to Secton (4) 2012 Florda State Statutes; and one (1) count of Volatng a Campagn Contrbuton Lmt, contrary to Secton (7)(b), 2012 Florda Statutes; and one (1) count of Offcal Msconduct, contrary to Secton , 2012 Florda Statutes; af)d one (1) count of Money Launderng, contrary to Secton , 2012 Florda Statutes, also known as The Florda Money Launderng Act, Your Affant has nvestgated the facts and crcumstances pertanng to the evdence receved from the Federal Bureau of nvestgaton, n assocaton wth FB stng operaton enttled "Red Chp", and states the followng: Between May 16 th and October 18 th of 2012, the Federal Bureau of nvestgaton conducted a stng operaton, enttled "Red Chp", to address alleged crmnal actvty related to poltcal corrupton n South Florda. Undercover FB agents, heren referred to as UCEs (undercover employees), posed as wealthy Calforna land developers seekng poltcal favor for busness projects, specfcally, commercal land development projects. A fcttous company, heren referred to as BW LLC, was also developed n support ths nvestgaton. r: 1 :. 1~ : Durng the operaton, UCEs engaged former attorney and lobbyst Alan Koslow to represent them n $outh Florda. At ths tme, Alan Koslow was unaware that he was nteractng wth undercover Federal Bureau of nvestgaton agents. Over the course of several months, numerous meetngs and conversatons were conducted, wth Alan Koslow and Mayor Joy Cooper, all of whch were audo or vdeo recorded; On June h, 2012, Alan Koslow stated to the UCEs that he had nfluence wth the Mayor and commssoners of the Cty of Hallandale Beach. He further stated to UC Es that he had the vote of the Mayor n the Cty of Hallandale and f they supportecj the Mayor's "causes" she would favorably vew ther projects wthn her Cty. On July 10 1 \ 2012, Koslow ntroduced the UCEs to Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper n her offce at Cty Hall, 400 South Federal Hghway, Hallandale Beach, FL. Durng ths meetng, UCEs and Koslow told Mayor Cooper of the UCEs' desre to fnd a sutable ste for development n the cty. Mayor Cooper dscussed the UCEs project and her mayoral campagn. Mayor Cooper ndcated that she and two other cty commssoners, Wllam Julan and Anthony Saunders, were a "team of three'' whch could -e~:~:~-~ fl;lvorable result for -~ -~--~~-E_s_p_r_o_je_c~-A- 1~-n K::lo~--~-ho_w_e~~~~or Co_o_pe_r_a /! : : ' 1

7 ... ~.-~. : ~ ,ff.:,: number representng a proposed contrbuton and asked her f t was a good number. She repled "No. Add a zero." Koslow confrmed "three zeros, s that fne?" and Mayor Cooper repled "Yes". l Durng a recorded conversaton on July 2?1h, 2012, Mayor Joy Cooper and Alan Koslow agreed 1-: that UCE's would make two contrbutons to her campagn. When told that each contrbuton would be 1; of $5000, one pror to August 14 th j: n the amount 2012 and one after that.date (referrng to the prmary and general electons tor Cty of Hallandale commssoner members), Mayor Cooper responded "Alrght. Cool", thus Mayor Cooper knowngly and wllngly solcted these llegal contrbutons for her campagn and further solcted contrbutons to the campagns of cty commssoners Wllam Julan and Anthony Saunders. These contrbutons would be n the amount of $1500 each; one before August 14, 2012 and one after that date. 1 On August.9 \ 2012, UCEs met wth Alan Koslow and Mayor Joy Cooper at her resdence n Hallandale Beach. After ths meetng, UCEs followed Alan Koslow to hs resdence n Hallandale Beach. Whle at hs resdence, UCEs gave Alan Koslow a Dunkn' Donuts bag contanng $ ( cash, all $100 blls, wth the understandng that Alan Koslow would channel these funds to Mayor Joy : Cooper, and Commssoners Anthony Saunders and Wllam Julan va campagn contrbutons. Alan ' Koslow advsed tbe -UCEs that he would be workng wth two dfferent Russan organzatons n an effort to have the organzatons wrte checks for the electon campagns n the followng manner: $5, was desgnated for Joy Cooper's Mayoral campagn, and $ each for campagn contrbutons to Commssoners Wllam Julan and Anthony Saunders. Alan Koslow advsed the UCEs that t would cost them between $500 and $1000 to have the Russan organzatons provde the checks. th On August 20, 2012, UCE 5051 stated to Mayor Joy Cooper durng a recorded meetng at the Flash Back Dner, that the pledged payment to her, va her campagn, woljld be n the form.of checks from a "bunch of Russan names". On September 13, 2012, Alan Koslow stated to UCE5051, durng a recorded phone conversaton, that he had personally handed 20 checks to Joy Cooper at a Hallandale Chamber of Commerce Fashon Show. Alan Koslow ndcated that wth the assstance of hs assocate Jula Yaremchuk, the checks were all ssued by persons wth "Russan last names and that he had a lst of those names. Koslow stated that the checks presented to Joy Cooper comprsed the $5,000 agreed 1 upon payment to Mayor Joy Cooper from the UCEs. Koslow also stated that when he nformed Mayor Cooper what was n the envelope she stated "that's fantastc" and confrmed that she understood everythng.ncludng the source of the funds. f: On October 2 nd, 2012, UC E's met wth Alan Koslow at the Westn Dplomat Hotel n Hollywood. Durng ths meetng, Alan Koslow provded UC Es wth photo copes of ten checks that were utlzed to funnel $5,000 of the cash that Koslow receved from UCEs to Mayor Joy Cooper and Commssoner Wllam Julan. Alan Koslow advsed the UCEs that he had utlzed Jula Yaremchuk and her Russan contacts to complete ths fnancal transacton. Koslow ndcated that he gave Jula Yaremchuk $5,000 cash that he had receved from the UCEs, and Jula Yaremchuk n turn had her Russan contacts wrte personal checks to Mayor Joy Cooper's and Commssoner Wllam Julan's campagns : ; n the amount of $ each, the legal lmt for campagn contrbutons. One of the checks was wrtten by Jula Yaremchuk and payable to "Bll Julan" n the amount of $ Accordng to Mayor Joy Cooper's Campagn Treasurer's Report, coverng perod 8/10/2012 through 9/14/2012, seven campagn contrbutons were recorded by "teachers" n the amount of Page 2 of u J, f. j_: 1, k.-: L

8 $ each. These contrbutor names were the same names as ndcated on the photocopy of checks that Alan Koslow provded to the UCEs. Accordng to the Mayor's Campagn Treasurer's Report, coverng the perod 9/15/2012 through 9/28/2012, a campagn contrbuton was recorded by a "teacher" n the amount of $ Ths s the second recorded entry of ths contrbutor, as ther name and date of check are ncluded n the report for the prevo us perod. Another Campagn Treasurer's Report, for the per~d of 9/29/2012 through 10/12/12, ncluded a campagn contrbuton by a "retred" person n the amount of $ Ths ndlvldual's name was also ncluded n the photocopy of checks provded to the UCEs by Alan Koslow. Mayor Cooper sgned these reports certfyng that she had "examned ths report and t s true, correct, and complete." The reports were receved by the Hallandale Cty Clerk's Offce on September f 21, October 5 1 \ and October 18 th, 2012, respectvely. r j. ; Accordng to Commssoner Wllam Julan's Campagn Treasurer's Report, or September 28 1 \ , contrbuton checks were receved from Jula Yaremchuk and her employee, Vtal Yarashevch, each n the amount of $ Both of these contrbutor names were ncluded n the photocopy of checks provded to the UCEs by Alan Koslow. There s no evdence to ndcate that Commssoner Julan knew the source of these campagn contrbutjons.. Sworn statements were taken from seven of the Russan ndvduals ssung the above ' mentoned checks, all of whom had a check from ther personal accounts deposted to the Campagns of Mayor Joy Cooper or Bll (Wllam) Julan. These ndvduals all stated that they were employed by Jula Yaremchuk at the tme the checks were wrtten and that Jula Yaremchuk solcted these checks, n the amount of $ Two of the ndvduals recalled recevng cash for ther checks. The others do not recall. A meetng was recorded on October 3, 2012, at the Flash Back Dner n Hallandale Beach, wth,. UCEs, Alan Koslow, and Mayor Joy Cooper. Mayor Cooper stated to UCEs "You guys have been great," acknowledgng that she had receved the $5,000 campagn contrbuton from them, va Alan Koslow. Mayor Cooper stated to UCEs that she "got one thng back from your lades ndcatng one of the checks she receved from UCEs va Koslow had bounced. Alan Koslow provded a sworn statement on November 9 1 \ n the above mentoned events. 2017, attestng to hs partcpaton. Mayor Joy Cooper knowngly solcted poltcal contrbutons whle n her offce, located wthn a buldng owned by a governmental entty, to wt: Hallandale Beach Cty Hall, contrary to Secton (4), 2012 Florda Statutes; and Mayor Joy Cooper knowngly and wllfully accepted two or more campagn contrbutons from an ndvdual(s) exceedng the $500 campagn contrbuton lmt. Mayor Cooper wllngly accepted campagn contrbutons knowng that, n order to conceal the amount, t was gong to be funneled to her va $500 checks from people who were beng rembursed for ther contrbuton, to wt: Joy Cooper accepted multple monetary nstruments from Alan Koslow (lndvdu al campagn contrbuton checks n the amount of $500 each) whch she knew to be an ndvdual monetary beneft from UCEs, but dsgused to avod campagn fnance regulatons, contrary to Secton (7)(b), 2012 Florda Statutes; and! Page 3 of 4 j.,

9 : :, Joy Cooper, whle a publc servant, to wt: Mayor of the Cty of Hallandale Beach, Florda, and wth the corrupt ntent to obtan a beneft for herself, dd knowngly falsfy or cause another to falsfy an offcal record or document, to wt: Florda Department of State, Dvson of Electons, Campagn Treasurer's Reports for Joy Cooper, coverng the perods of August 10 th through September 14 th, 2012, September 15 th through September 28 th, 2012, and September 29 th through October 12'\ 2012, all of whch were tme stamped as receved by the Cty of Hallandale, ndcatng Ma yor Cooper had receved contrbutons frqm ndvduals when n fact she knew the ndvduals were not the true source of the contrbutons, contrary to Secton , 2012 Florda Statutes; and Joy Cooper, knowng th_at the property nvolved n a fnancal transacton, to wt: monetary nstruments receved from Alan Koslow, represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful actvty, to wt: the volaton of campagn contrbuton lmts pursuant to Secton , 2012 Florda Statutes, dd conduct or attempt to conduct such a fnancal transacton whch n fact nvolves the proceeds of specfed unlawful actvty, to wt: the volaton. of campagn contrbuton lmts pursuant to Secton , 2012 Florda Statutes, wth the ntent to promote the carryng on of specfed unlal/'1ful actvty, or knowng that the transacton s desgned n whole or n part to conceal or dsguse the nature, the locaton, the source, the ownershp, or the control of the proceeds of specfed unlal/'1ful actvty, contrary to Secton , 2012 Florda Statutes, also known as The Florda Money Launderng Act.! :, "' l, h 1 _.. r. Affant swears that the nformaton contaned n thls affdavt s true and correct to the best of hs knowledge and belef. '),/:JD Sworn to and subscrbed before me. Ths ~ day of., A.D /( 6, cj/4/;mt~ M'a.nt nvestgator Kate Abrahamsen '/Jf( 2,..':)~ l j / (. - r! Page 4 of 4. j.!