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Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony Testified He Was Unaware Of Suspended License Until 2000 Traffic Stop, Court Documents And Investigation Tell Different Story

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Gregory Tony

In testimony before Administrative Law Judge Robert Kilbride last week, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony repeatedly referred to a March 2000 traffic stop in Liberty County. While on the way to Panama City to Tallahassee, Tony stated he was stopped by a member of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). Tony implied the FHP trooper had done him a favor by going easy on him for driving with a suspended license.

According to his testimony, Tony was unaware his Pennsylvania drivers license was suspended until the March 2000 traffic stop. Tony claimed he was too young to know about the particulars of the 1993 suspension. Tony urged anyone who may know the trooper to tell him he had done a great thing.

Just one problem.

None of the court documents from the 2000 traffic stop make any mention of Tony’s suspended license.

EXPIRED

On Sunday March 19, 2000 Gregory Tony, then 21 years old, was stopped by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper in Liberty County. Even though he lived in an apartment on Appleyard Drive in Tallahassee, Tony produced a Pennsylvania driver’s license.

According to a copy of the criminal violation obtained by REDBROWARD, Tony’s license had expired two years earlier.

There is no mention of any suspension of the driver’s license.

Tony was given a copy of the criminal violation and an April 4, 2002 appearance date.

Documents show Tony appeared at the Liberty Courthouse at the April 2000 hearing. A handwritten note reads “[Tony] present. Case continued for 30 days. Def. instructed to show proof of valid license in Judge’s office or be in court 05-02-00.”

A second handwritten note shows Tony appeared at the May 2000 court date. Instead of producing a valid driver’s license, Tony “plea nolo contendre [no contest], adj. [adjudication] withheld, to pay $123 court cost by 06-06-00.”

A receipt shows Tony paid $123 in court costs.

Why did Tony plead no contest instead of producing a valid driver’s license?

He did not have one.

SUSPENDED

According to an Office of Executive Investigations (OEI) document, Tony’s Pennsylvania license was suspended on August 8, 1993 for “Failure to Appear for Trial or Court Appearance.” In June 1994, Tony received a “Driver Conviction” for “Operator Must Be Licensed.” On March 4, 1997 Tony received a “Driver Conviction” for a red light violation.

The investigation shows Tony’s license was suspended for “five separate cases” on January 23, 1998. Tony’s Pennsylvania driver’s license expired on November 30, 1998.

The OEI investigation found Tony did not possess a valid driver’s license when stopped by the FHP trooper in Liberty County.

According to the report, when he was stopped, “Tony did possess a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) issued identification card, but not a Florida Driver’s License.”

Coincidentally, the address Tony provided on the Liberty County criminal violation, was an apartment he shared with Sonia Colon.

Colon testified last week as a witness for Sheriff Tony. Under cross examination, Colon admitted to a longtime “romantic relationship” with Tony. Colon admitted to living with Tony at two different Tallahassee apartments.

Colon currently serves as a bureau chief for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Why is Tony acting as if he was unaware of his suspended license status?

State law prohibits issuance of driver’s license to someone with a suspended license in another state.

Did Tony try to obtain a Florida Driver’s License when he arrived in Tallahassee?

Why settle for a State Identification Card instead of Driver’s License?

Why is Tony so thankful to the FHP trooper? Drivers are routinely given time to produce a license, vehicle registration or proof of insurance to avoid paying a fine.

In the 2000 case, Tony was given nearly two months to produce a valid driver’s license.

Tony could not produce one because he did not obtain one.

Who owned the vehicle Tony was driving in March 2000?

Did Gregory Tony have the required automobile insurance?

Why is Sheriff Gregory Tony’s backstory so convoluted?

Broward residents deserve straightforward, honest answers, right?

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Operation Lone Star in Full Force as Florida Resources Arrive at Southern Border

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From the press office of Governor Ron DeSantis:

DEL RIO, Texas — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida’s assets are on-scene to assist the State of Texas with the influx of migrants illegally crossing the southern border. Last week, the State of Texas officially requested resources through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to assist in responding to the substantial public safety and national security threat posed by the federal government’s failure to secure the international border with Mexico. 

Through EMAC, states can provide resources, including personnel, to other states to assist in times of emergency. Texas and Florida are parties to this agreement and can accept support from each other at any time through an EMAC request. The EMAC process also ensures resources and personnel deployed for emergency situations are eligible for FEMA reimbursement. In 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis answered the call for support and reinforcements following a letter from Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona requesting immediate assistance with the security crisis overwhelming law enforcement at the southern border.

During Operation Lone Star from June 26 – August 14, 2021, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported the following from Del Rio and Eagle Pass:

  • 9,171 undocumented migrant contacts (7,891 adults and 1,190 children)
  • 311 criminal arrests, including:
  • 79 human smuggling
  • 16 stolen vehicles
  • 43 narcotics

Operation Vigilant Sentry at Florida’s southern border continues with the State Emergency Response Team facilitating the coordination of state assets to increase coastal vigilance and provide improved situational awareness on migrant activities. This includes working with the United State Coast Guard (USCG) Incident Management Team on migrant interdictions, repatriations, and vessel targeting. 

Florida National Guard (FLG)

  • The Florida National Guard is supporting the Texas Military Department through mission sets including static observation points, roving patrols, and engineer assistance with obstacle improvement.
  • 436 personnel have completed initial orientation, including training on the use of force and narcotic overdose medicine, and are on-scene completing mission sets alongside Texas National Guard counterparts.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

  • Forty FDLE agents and eight support team members are deployed along the Texas border as part of Operation Lone Star. On May 19, agents were sworn in, allowing them to enforce Texas laws.
  • FDLE is assisting Texas law enforcement agencies investigating criminal activity along the border associated with human, drug, and weapon smuggling.  
  • FDLE agents have assisted the Texas Department of Public Safety with 32 arrests, including several gang members. Suspects were arrested on various Texas state charges including human smuggling, firearms, smuggling of persons, and possession of controlled substance.  
  • As part of the arrests, FDLE agents helped seize cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a handgun with multiple boxes of ammunition.

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) – Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)

  • 101 FHP Troopers are deployed in support of Operation Lone Star.
  • Two fixed-wing aircraft are deployed, including one with monitoring equipment and downlink capabilities, for monitoring and patrol of the border.
  • Two Mobile Command Vehicles (Weslaco and Del Rio) are providing an incident command location for Command Staff and Troopers during incident responses, facilitating real-time operational command, enabling dispatch capabilities, and offering downlink options for both fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Additionally, the Mobile Command Vehicles support logistical needs by assisting with trooper transportation and equipment conveyance, seamlessly transitioning from one destination to another, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and readiness.
  • Five unmanned aerial vehicle pilots with drones are deployed to assist with visualization in areas of dense foliage or low light or during night operations, including surveillance of the border.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

  • Twenty sworn FWC officers and two mechanics deployed to Texas to assist federal, state, and local agencies with response efforts. 
  • Ten shallow draft vessels capable of navigating variable depth river environments and twenty four-wheel-drive patrol vehicles are deployed.