Tag Archives: A Star For I

Pro-Gregory Tony PAC Funneled Money To Consultants Tied To Broward Mayor Dale Holness

Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony and Broward Mayor Dale Holness

Funds from a political committee supporting Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony were funneled to consultants tied to Broward Mayor Dale Holness, State campaign records show. To date, the Parkland-based Broward First political committee has raised nearly $1.5 million dollars in support of Sheriff Tony’s campaign. In the weeks before and after the August 18 primary, Broward First sent $36,750 to two different political committees in Fort Lauderdale.

On July 27, 2020 Broward First made a $16,000 contribution to the Young Professionals For Florida political committee. On August 25, 2020 Broward First made a $20,750 contribution to the South Florida Accountability Project.

Both Fort Lauderdale Political committees are managed by the same attorney.

DALE HOLNESS’ EX-WIFE?!?

On July 27, 2020, Young Professionals For Florida made a $16,000 contribution to the South Florida Accountability Project.

On that very day, Karlisle Williamson Jr. of Margate created All Priority Consulting, Inc., State corporation records show.

On August 11, 2020 South Florida Accountability Project paid $15,000 to All Priority Consulting.

On August 12, 2020 the money was refunded to the political committee. It was repaid to All Priority Consulting on August 13, 2020.

The campaign records and corporation filings show 5523 Barnstead Circle in Lake Worth as the place of business for All Priority Consulting.

This is the exact same address used by the mysterious Stronger Together Florida political committee.

Earlier this week, REDBROWARD revealed the telephone number for the political committee is (754) 444-6117.

Campaign reports from the 2016 Broward election show Stronger Together Chairperson Kayla Butler was a paid intern on the Dale Holness campaign

The telephone number for Stronger Together Florida is listed in State records for third party groups conducting voter registrations. The number is listed for “All Consulting And Marketing, Inc.” which conducted voter registration drives at 4325 W. Sunrise Blvd in Plantation since May, 2019.

This is the same address for All Broward Realty, Inc, a real estate company owned by Broward Mayor Dale Holness.

According to State corporate records, All Consulting And Marketing Inc. is owned by Richelle Holness, the daughter of Broward Mayor Dale Holness. State corporate records indicate the corporation was dissolved in September 2019 after failing to file its required corporate report.

State records show Richelle Holness started Tax Unlimited Corp in 2016 with A.H. The corporation was located at 4325 W. Sunrise Blvd in Plantation.

REDBROWARD has learned A.H. is the former wife of Broward Mayor Dale Holness.

When reached by telephone by REDBROWARD, Richelle Holness refused to discuss her role with the political committee. Broward election records list Richelle Holness as the treasurer for Broward Mayor Dale Holness’ 2020 campaign.

BIG BUCKS FOR HOLNESS CONSULTANT/GURU

On September 2, 2020 State the South Florida Accountability Project paid $20,000 to A Star For I, Inc. As REDBROWARD reported on numerous occasions. A Star For I, Inc. is owned and operated by Dale Holness consultant and marketing “guru” Omar M. Smith.

When REDBROWARD contacted the mysterious People For Principle PAC in July, Omar Smith answered the telephone. In 2018, REDBROWARD exposed Omar Smith’s role in the mysterious A Better Florida For All political committee.

Earlier this month, REDBROWARD reported on a large COVID Relief/PPP Loan obtained by A Star For I, Inc.

According to news organizations tracking the COVID-19 relief program, A Star For I, Inc. received approval for a loan between $150,000 and $350,000 on June 1, 2020.

Even though PPP loans were intended to be used on employee payroll, these organizations state A Star For I, Inc. reported zero employees on its loan applications. Self-employed business owners were eligible for PPP loans of $20,883.

How did A Star For I, Inc. receive nearly ten times more for “owner compensation replacement” than average self-employed business owners?

But why was A Star For I, Inc. seeking “compensation replacement” at all?

In addition to the $20,000 from the South Florida Accountability Project, Florida Division of Elections records show Omar Smith’s company received 14,188 from political campaigns after receiving a six-figure PPP loan. This includes a July 9, 2020 payment of $1,500 by George Odom’s judicial campaign and and a July 30, 2020 payment for $10,200 by former Broward Judge Ian Richards.

Broward election records show Omar Smith made even more money from his work as Dale Holness’ campaign consultant. Holness is seeking re-election for his District 9 seat this November. Holness has no Republican opposition, just an unknown write-in candidate.

According to Holness campaign reports, Omar Smith/A Star for I, Inc was paid $46,750 as a consultant. More than $31,000 was paid after the COVID-19 lockdown.

Why would pro-Gregory Tony political contributions end up in the hands of Dale Holness consultants?

Why does the Palm Beach home of Dale Holness’ former wife house multiple businesses involved in Broward politics?

Shouldn’t someone else start asking Dale Holness what is going on with these political committees and his family members?

Broward voters deserve answers, right?

Dale Holness Campaign Consultant Received Up To $350k PPP Loans Despite No Employees

Can We Really Count On Broward Mayor Dale Holness?

A company owned by Broward Mayor Dale Holness’ controversial campaign consultant received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for up to $350,000, records show. According to news organizations tracking the COVID-19 relief program, A Star For I, Inc. received approval for a loan between $150,000 and $350,000 on June 1, 2020. As REDBROWARD previously reported, A Star For I, Inc. is owned and operated by Omar M. Smith, Dale Holness’ campaign “guru.”

Even though PPP loans were intended to be used on employee payroll, these organizations state A Star For I, Inc. reported zero employees on its loan applications. Self-employed business owners were eligible for PPP loans.

According to Marketwatch.com:

After much confusion, it’s now clear that self-employed individuals who have no employees, and therefore no actual payroll expenses, can qualify for PPP loan forgiveness by simply paying themselves so-called owner compensation replacement. The amount that can be forgiven is based on your 2019 net self-employment income and can be up to 100% of the loan amount. However, the maximum loan amount for a self-employed person with no employees is $20,833.

How did A Star For I, Inc. receive nearly ten times more for “owner compensation replacement” than average self-employed business owners?

But why was A Star For I, Inc. seeking “compensation replacement” at all?

Omar Smith

HOLNESS CONSULTANT PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DURING LOCKDOWN

According to the Florida Division of Elections, Omar Smith’s company received 14,188 from political campaign after receiving a six-figure PPP loan. This includes a July 9, 2020 payment of $1,500 by George Odom’s judicial campaign and and a July 30, 2020 payment for $10,200 by former Broward Judge Ian Richards.

Broward election records show Omar Smith made even more money from his work as Dale Holness’ campaign consultant. Holness is seeking re-election for his District 9 seat this November. Holness has no Republican opposition, just an unknown write-in candidate.

According to Holness campaign reports, Omar Smith/A Star for I, Inc was paid $46,750 as a consultant. More than $31,000 was paid after the COVID-19 lockdown.

TEAM HOLNESS

In July, REDBROWARD exposed how Broward Mayor Dale Holness’ campaign team appeared to be behind a mysterious federal political committee backing mostly black candidates. Records show Holness’ longtime campaign marketing guru Omar Smith is tied to the “People Over Principle PAC.” These same records show the committee has failed report any money contributions or expenditures as required by law.

Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show People of Principle PAC was created by Charmalin Brown in January 2019. Brown used the address of a Margate UPS store as the headquarters for the political committee. In April 2019, Charmalin Brown purchased the domain name currently used by People Of Principle PAC.

State corporation records show Charmalin Brown, a tax preparer, started a business in 2006 using Omar Smith as her registered agent. Brown used a home on the 300 block of Berenger Walk in Royal Palm Beach as her business address. Numerous records show Omar Smith uses the same Berenger Walk address.

Federal records show People of Principle PAC has never reported its financial information. The FEC sent “failure to file” notices on August 15, 2019, February 19, 2020 and May 1, 2020 to the committee.

In addition to costs used to purchase domain and rent a mailbox at the Margate UPS Store, People Of Principle PAC is spending money on advertisements promoting Broward candidates. These candidates included Dale Holness, George Odom and Ian Richards.

In January 2018, REDBROWARD exposed the roles Omar Smith and County Commissioner Dale Holness played in Dean Trantalis’ Fort Lauderdale Mayoral campaign.

Florida Division Of Elections records show Sophia A. Nelson is the chairperson of the “A Better Florida For All” political committee. The address for this political committee is the same address found on a December pro-Trantalis email sent to Fort Lauderdale voters by “FlyerSmith.”

Division of Elections records show Omar Smith is the treasurer of the “A Better Florida For All” political committee.

On December 7, 2017 A Better Florida For All hosted a fundraiser for Dean Trantalis. According to an announcement posted on the group’s Facebook page, the A Better Florida For All event was being held at 4325 West Sunrise Boulevard in Plantation. This is the address for All Broward Realty, a company owned by Dale Holness.

In October 2018, Buddy Nevins of Broward Beat reported on four local judicial candidates appearing the endorsement card produced by A Better Florida For All. The card promoted Democrat candidates most notably Andrew Gillum. Nevins wrote, “Four Broward lawyers running for judge could end up in trouble for appearing to violate state Code of Ethics for judicial candidates. Partisan appeals judicial candidates’ ads are forbidden by the Florida Supreme Court Code of Judicial Conduct. Joint advertising by judicial candidates is also prohibited.”

Omar Smith talked to the Sun-Sentinel about the palm card controversy. Smith “insisted this week that none of the candidates were picked because of financial ties to the political action committee or to any of Smith’s businesses, which perform campaign services.”

Shortly thereafter, the State of Florida revoked the registration of A Better Florida For All. Smith failed to properly submit paper to the Florida Division Of Elections. Attempts to contact Smith failed.

In November 2018, Omar Smith made national headlines when Project Veritas showed undercover video of him calling Florida a “cracker state.” Smith was working for the Andrew Gillum campaign.

While some Gillum supporters claimed Omar Smith did not work for the campaign, financial records show otherwise. According to Florida Division of Elections records, the Andrew Gillum campaign paid Smith’s company, FlyerSmith, $50,000 in August 2018.

Also, the Project Veritas video appears to have been recorded inside Dale Holness’ real estate office in Plantation.

ANOTHER HOLNESS CONSULTANT AND PPP

Last month, REDBROWARD revealed a Florida corporation based inside Broward Mayor Dale Holness’ real estate office received a loan up to $350,000 via the Federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) intended to help companies affected by the COVID-19 lockdown pay employees. Numerous records and published reports show Holness Consulting Inc. received a PPP loan between $150,000 and $350,000 on June 27, 2020. According to State records, Holness Consulting Inc. is located at 4325 W. Sunrise Blvd in Plantation. Damara Holness, daughter of Dale Holness, is listed as its president.

Two businesses owned by Broward Mayor Dale Holness, All Broward Realty and American Holding Group, are located at 4325 W. Sunrise Blvd in Plantation.

State corporation records show Damara Holness formed Holness Consulting Inc in November 2018. Ms. Holness, president of the Broward Black Democratic Party Caucus, is active in local and State political campaigns. In December 2018, Holness Consulting Inc received a $350 payment from Coral Springs Commissioner Joshua Simmons. In June 2019, Coral Commission candidate Khurrum Wahid paid $4,500 to Holness Consulting Inc.

It appears Holness Consulting Inc failed to file its 2019 annual report in 2019. Holness Consulting Inc. filed for reinstatement on June 22, 2020. Five days later, Holness Consulting Inc received its PPP loan.

According to available records, Holness Consulting Inc. claims to have eighteen employees. It is rare for any local political consultant to employ anyone other than themselves.

When REDBROWARD reached her by telephone, Damara Holness said, “I’m in a meeting right now” and hung up.

Dale Holness and Damara Holness have worked closely on political campaigns in the past. In 2018, the Holness offices housed the Andrew Gillum for Governor campaign offices. Earlier this year, Damara Holness hosted a party registration event at Dale Holness’ office in Plantation.

Did Broward Mayor Dale Holness encourage his daughter and his campaign guru to seek a PPP loans?

Omar Smit Outside Dale Holness Real Estate Office in 2018