As Jolly runs for Florida gov., he confronts prior ties to alleged fraudster
Shortly after David Jolly launched his campaign for Florida governor, his former boss was indicted for taking over $100 million from a disability nonprofit. Jolly says he wasn't aware of the scheme.
David Jolly, a Democrat running for Florida governor, is addressing allegations that his former boss, businessman Leo Govoni, allegedly embezzled over $100 million from a nonprofit organization that managed assets for people with disabilities. Jolly, who left the Republican party early in the Trump era, has distanced himself from Govoni, calling the alleged actions "raw cruelty."
He claims he was never involved in the scheme and was unaware of any transfers of funds. Jolly's campaign senior advisor stated that Jolly was forthright with the public and press since he learned of the matter. However, federal prosecutors allege that Govoni used a for-profit firm to enrich himself by funneling money from the nonprofit to the firm during the period when Jolly worked there.
Jolly worked at Boston Finance Group from 2012 to early 2014, earning $250,000 in 2013. While Jolly did not serve in a position of fiduciary responsibility or have visibility into the finances of Govoni or his companies, the alleged scheme left a trail of victims, including a Colorado resident whose legal settlements were placed in a trust managed by Govoni's nonprofit, from which $200,000 to $360,000 disappeared.
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