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Florida regulators “asleep at the switch” no background check for felons!

I very much enjoyed reading the story that wmbb ran today entitled Mortgage Brokers with Criminal Backgournds.  The State of Florida is in desperate need of reform when it comes to turning criminals loose then handing them a professional license. It is not a stretch for anyone to be concerned that a criminal convicted of crimes of dishonesty may incoporate those same skills or lack there of into their business.  I have first hand knowledge of the devastating effects of being fleeced by a felon.  I unknowlingly hired an ex-convict and didn’t bother to do a background check as I believed that a professional license by the State of Florida wouldn’t have been issued if there was a criminal background.  That assumption was absolutely false and has cost me my life savings!!  I fell victim to a foreclosure & extortion scam which even lead to physical violence when I didn’t give in to his bullying and intimidation techniques.  I have been pleading with Florida agencies for reform for about a year now with no results.  The state takes no responsibility for turning these felons loose with a license to do business when these agencies well know that these felons pose a great risk to the unsuspecting consumers.  I have researched the Florida Statutes and I found several laws that were clearly violated but yet authorities don’t want to take the time to prosecute these type of crimes.  With Meth Labs and Murders....who has time to bother with white collar crimes.  So they go unpunished and the consumers only recourse is to throw even more money down the drain in legal fees to try and get their lives back.  What a disgrace!!
Make sure that you don’t hire a felon.  Call the courthouse or search baycoclerk.com (case search) Better to be safe than sorry!!!

Entry submitted by on 07/22 at 09:16 AM

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Submitted Comments: (if any)

ALLOW FELONS? THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA ARE FELONS!  WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

Comment submitted by glaplante  on  07/30  at  08:28 PM

I agree that you should be very careful considering ex felons for a job position, but I suspect there is no law right now that says they can’t hold that position. In fact, the sentiment (not mine!!) is that these “ex” criminals need to have more of their rights restored like voting, etc. My guess is that as we try to restrict them more, the ACLU will get involved and attempt to force it down our throats.

Comment submitted by  on  07/31  at  07:03 AM

Wow, I agree..I had many thing missing out of my house andit cdould only have been the mainteance man. Called the landlord and asked for the items he must have accidently took with him. The guy cam eto my door and told me I couldnt prove anything. He did not say mam, I did not take them. Then I got an idea. I onlu knew his first name and approx age. SO I went to the state DOC web page, typed in his frist name, Bay county and BINGO...burglery of a dwelling, grand theft etc.. heck he had to use on of those ankle things and was monitored on parole till 2012. Called his PO and they said To bad to sad, sorry lady. It seems that there is a program that people can hire ex cons to help them get back on their feet which is great, they get a tax deduction and the people get jobs. But if someone was convicted for burglarizing a home do you give his the master keys to the homes? That is like saying to someone convicted of drug dealing, hey I got a great job working at a pharmacy. I even asked if his court order said he could never go back into a home alone and they said no. Went to the clerks office and they are on the side of all landlords. I left the place spotless, still did not get back deposit another Bay county scam. sorry maybe this is another topic =)

Comment submitted by  on  08/26  at  02:30 AM

Dear glaplante:
Thanks for the info.  I haven’t lived here long enough to know all the dirt but I sure am learning.  As far as criminal go, I am the first to give someone a second chance and hope that they have changed but I seem to get burned when I take that attitute.  I have been bitten in the butt too many times since I moved to Panama City.

Comment submitted by  on  08/29  at  03:04 PM

Hey Sunshine:
Thanks for the info on the DOC webpage.  I routinely check the Bay County Florida Ovation web to check on locals but didn’t know about the other one.

Know that I know that a business will get a tax break for hiring a ex-con, it answers alot of questions that I have had about the local thugs.

It is one thing to give a “reformed” person another chance but it they abuse it, what do you do?  The law does nothing as you know.

Comment submitted by  on  09/26  at  08:25 AM

What about pick and choose enforcement?  If a policy is in place with any business to hire felons than at least they should be consistent with their policy.

There is an un-named person in Bay County Government who licenses Felons when it suits her but then turns others away?  Why?

Comment submitted by  on  10/16  at  08:31 AM

Do you mean on Mulberry?  I think that I know who you mean.  Have you heard of anyone donating work at her home?  Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn’t but it doesn’t look good. 

The County building dept is famous for “pick and chose enforcement”.  I believe that is their motto!

Comment submitted by  on  10/19  at  01:55 PM

Also, it may be the same person who unloads her personal problems on the contractors.  I don’t have time for her crap.  She better not waste my time with her problems. It would be great for someone to get her blubbering on tape and send it to Tallahassee.  How could Bay County Gov. talk their way out of that one??

Comment submitted by  on  10/19  at  01:59 PM

The State of Florida regulators are truly asleep at the switch except when it comes time to collect their pay check.

There are few regulations that are enforced especially here in Bay County.  This is truly a safe haven for criminals.

The county only makes it worse by neglecting to enforce their own regulations.

Comment submitted by  on  10/21  at  02:12 PM

This place is crawling with criminals, but as long as they pay the licensing fees the state and county continue to look the other way.

Comment submitted by  on  10/23  at  10:24 AM
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