Tag Archives: Florida Commission On Ethics

Victim Placed Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony At Scene Of Stabbing Over Drug Debt Hours Before Deadly Shooting In Philadelphia

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Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony

In May 1993, a victim told Philadelphia Homicide Detectives that Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony accompanied the drug dealer who stabbed him over a twenty dollar debt, newly unearthed police records show. As first reported by the Florida Bulldog, the Florida Commission on Ethics released eighty-nine pages of police records surrounding the murder of Hector “Chino” Rodriguez. Philadelphia Police charged Tony with the murder of Rodriguez.

Two years ago, Gregory Tony claimed he killed Rodriguez in self defense. “When I was 14 years old, growing up in a dangerous neighborhood in North Philadelphia known as the Badlands, filled with gun violence, drugs and gang activity, I had to shoot an armed man in self-defense,” Tony stated in a social media post.

“The juvenile justice system reviewed my actions and concluded there was no crime and cleared my name,” Tony said.

However, multiple witnesses claimed the teenaged Tony shot an unarmed Rodriguez in front of the Tony home in Philadelphia. The witnesses said Tony confronted Rodriguez with a gun following a verbal argument. Tony shot Rodriguez multiple times including two shots in the back of the head.

In one interview, a witness placed Gregory Tony and Chino Rodriguez at the scene of a drug-related stabbing just hours before Tony killed Rodriguez.

YES, THEY WERE BOTH THERE

On Monday, May 3, 1993 at 3:55PM, Philadelphia Police responded to a shooting at 2828 N. Hutchinson Street. A family member had already taken a mortally wounded Hector “Chino” Rodriguez to Episcopal Hospital. Witnesses on the scene told police that fourteen-year old Gregory Scott Tony shot Rodriguez.

Among the eighty-nine pages of investigative records released last week by the Florida Commission on Ethics is a three-page interview with Tito Castillo. The interview was conducted by a Philadelphia Police Homicide Detective less than 3 hours after Tony shot Rodriguez. Castillo had spent time inside Episcopal Hospital that day.

Castillo said he learned of the shooting when he saw Rodriguez’s mother inside Episcopal Church.

Castillo told police he went to the hospital for treatment on a stab wound in his right shoulder. Castillo said he was stabbed by Jackie Davis who lived in an abandoned house at 2817 Hutchinson Street. When asked why Davis stabbed him, Castillo said, “Because he said that I have 20 dollars of his. I don’t have twenty dollars of his.”

Castillo told the detective he had known Rodriguez for six years. He stated he had known Gregory Tony for five years.

The detective asked Castillo if Jackie Davis was friends with Gregory Tony. “Yes he is,” Castillo said.

Police asked Castillo, “When Jackie stabbed you, did Gregory or Hector see this?”

“Yes, they were both there,” Castillo said.

The detective asked “Was the $20.00 debt over drugs?”

Castillo responded, “Yes, Jackie sells drugs.”

In the other police interviews, witnesses were asked if drugs played any role in the death of Hector “Chino” Rodriguez. Since many of the witnesses were members of the Rodriguez family, it is not surprising they denied any knowledge of drugs.

Clearly, detectives quickly surmised drugs and drug-dealing played some role in the violence that day.

The newly-revealed statement by Castillo places Gregory Tony at the scene of second violent crime on May 3, 1993.

Did Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony have any involvement in drug trafficking in the Philadelphia “Badlands” in the early 1990s?

Did Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony accompany Jackie Davis to collect a drug debt from Tito Castillo?

Did Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony witness Jackie Davis stab Tito Castillo over a $20 drug debt?

Was Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony a close friend or associate of Jackie Davis?

Broward residents deserve real answers about this matter.

Statement of Tito Castillo

State Ethics Commission Finds Probable Cause Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness Violated Financial Disclosure Laws Four Times

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The Florida Commission on Ethics found probable cause that Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness violated financial disclosure laws set forth by the Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes. The Commission released its findings on Wednesday even though investigators finished their report in September. News of the investigation comes one month after Holness’ stunning defeat in the U.S. Congressional CD 20 Democrat primary.

According to official documents obtained by REDBROWARD, investigators determined there was probable cause that Dale Holness, “Violated Article II, Section 8 Florida Constitution and Section 112.3144 Florida Statutes by failing to disclose income from two corporations he owns and secondary sources of income related to those corporations.” A complaint filed by Richard Giorgio, a representative of a political consulting firm, in July stated Holness failed to make these disclosures on the Form 6 Financial Disclosure document filed with the State in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

While Holness listed American Holding Group and All Broward Realty Inc. as companies he owned, he claimed to derive no income from these businesses. Additionally, Holness claimed to derive no income from his seven rental properties in Broward.

Investigators interviewed Dale Holness who was represented by attorney Hans Ottinot. Earlier this year, REDBROWARD exposed how allies of Holness desperately tried to get Ottinot appointed as the permanent City of Tamarac attorney.

During the interview, Holness “maintained he did not receive any income from either corporation during the years 2016-2019. His income, he explained, comes from his service on the County Commission and is disclosed on his financial disclosure forms.”

Holness admitted to receiving income from the seven rental properties but claimed he thought it did not have to be disclosed since it was “offset by expenses and depreciation.”

Holness stated he filled out the Form 6 documents without assistance from any accountants. He claimed he filed amended disclosure forms in August after calling Tallahassee for clarification of the rules.

The amendments show Holness derived more than $40,000 from rentals of his seven properties.

Despite knowledge of an investigation into his own financial disclosures, Holness had the chutzpah to use the “lack of financial disclosure” argument in a lawsuit seeking to overturn his defeat by political newcomer Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

Holness’ case will be set for a public hearing in Tallahassee before the Commission on Ethics board.