Tag Archives: shawn chait

Marlon Bolton Hides Behind Fake News Website and British “Reporter” To Launch Attacks On Tamarac Mayor & Fellow Commissioners

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Marlon Bolton LOVES The Tamarac Post

Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton (D-Bully) is attacking his fellow commissioners with the help of a woman in England and his favorite fake news website. In March 2021, REDBROWARD exposed Bolton’s deep ties to the shill website called “The Tamarac Post.” The website is owned and operated by close Bolton ally Anthony Bonamy.

The Tamarac Post repeatedly wrote stories praising Marlon Bolton and his Commission co-hort Elberg Mike Gelin. The City Of North Lauderdale fired Bonamy from his position as deputy clerk after REDBROWARD revealed his role in the website. Bonamy was not unemployed for long; He was hired as an aide to Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness.

Since March, The Tamarac Post resorted to posting City of Tamarac press releases and community news. But the website returned to its pro-Marlon Bolton political coverage on August 26th with the breaking news that Bolton was named a “voting delegate” to the Florida League of Cities conference. Zzzzz.

One day later, news broke that Tamarac City Manager Michael Cernech was arrested on a RICO charge for his involvement in an extortion plot hatched by notorious father/son developers Bruce and Shawn Chait.

The Tamarac Post sprang into action. It’s August 27th story “Tamarac City Manager Arrested On Corruption Charges, Mayor Could Be Removed” was nothing more than Marlon Bolton press release. After sharing details from the Attorney General of Florida’s office, the Tamarac Post reporter wrote she “reached out to Commissioner Marlon Bolton, a Tamarac City Commissioner, for comment.” Bolton tried to play the hero and the victim at the same time. He claimed he warned Mayor Michelle Gomez and fellow commissioners about Cernech.

“Michael Cernech threatened me several times, that if I ever go after him, that he would leak misleading information about me in the media, and he did,” Bolton said, “Day after day, I dealt with negative press, none of which were true, but how could I defend myself against such a wealthy guy? But the Lord has vindicated me” he added.

Uh-huh.

While Bolton singled out Mayor Gomez and former ally Elvin Villalobos with vague threats of political comeuppance, his ally Gelin was praised for his dislike of Cernech.

Bolton never addressed his name being mentioned in the Cernech arrest affidavit numerous times.

On Tuesday, The Tamarac Post was back with more pro-Bolton propaganda regarding tonight’s emergency meeting of the city commission. The story includes a photograph of Gomez, Villalobos, Debra Placko and Michael Cernech with clown make up. Once again, the story is nothing more than a Marlon Bolton press release.

The story attacks Gomez for calling the emergency meeting for Tuesday, even though Cernech was just arrested on Friday. Once again, The Tamarac Post heaps praise on Bolton and Gelin.

“In an email to residents, Bolton warned that his colleague’s priorities were in the wrong place and that he was disappointed they failed to act swiftly. Commissioner Gelin spoke to his almost 14,000 Instagram followers exposing the City Manager’s arrest. Like Bolton, Gelin said he called for a special meeting for the same day.”

Then, the reporter attacks the integrity deputy city manager Kathleen Gunn. She wrote Gunn would “perpetuate corruption” because she “watched” Cernech do his “job.” The reporter states any elected official who votes for Gunn would also “perpetuate corruption” in Tamarac.

Who is this Tamarac Post reporter with deep inside knowledge of Tamarac politics and access to Commissioner Marlon Bolton?

MARIA COLSON

According to The Tamarac Post, all three stories were written by Maria Colson. These are the first stories she contributed to the shill website. Her Tamarac Post bio gives a vanity website, mariacolson.com, which appears to be a dead link. Links to her Facebook and Twitter accounts are also provided.

According to her social media accounts, Maria Colson is a twentysomething woman living in Sidcup, England. According to her LinkedIn page, Colson works for TJ MAXX and a public policy firm. Both jobs are located in England, NOT Tamarac.

According to her Twitter account, Maria Colson is deeply interested in British animal rights causes and climate change initiatives. She makes no mention of Tamarac, or Broward, or Florida or even the U.S.A.

REDBROWARD attempted to contact Maria Colson via her Facebook page. She did not respond to questions.

Did The Tamarac Post outsource its political coverage to jolly old England? Was Maria Colson hired to write these stories?

Or, did The Tamarac Post think nobody would ever check?

Why does Marlon Bolton share such a shady website with his constituents?

Why doesn’t Marlon Bolton speak to local media outlets other than The Tamarac Post?

Is he afraid of tough questions?

Marlon Bolton shared link to The Tamarac Post

“THE BOLTON CARD:” Arrest Docs in RICO Case Show City Manager & Developers Discussed Role of Controversial Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton

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The Bolton Card

Tamarac City Manager Michael Cernech and shady developers Bruce And Shawn Chait repeatedly discussed Tamarac Commissioner Marlon Bolton in a series of text messages, official criminal case documents show. On Friday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the arrest of Cernech on felony conspiracy to commit racketeering (RICO) for his role in an extortion plot hatched by the Chaits. The father and son developers have a long history of landing Tamarac and Broward politicians in legal hot water.

An affidavit filed by a Florida Department Of Law Enforcement (FDLE) agent details numerous communications and meetings between Cernech and the Chaits regarding a Tamarac property once owned by the Chaits. Hoping to recoup gains they felt they deserved, the Chaits attempted to get the current owner of the Woodlands parcel to pay $3.4 million in compensation. If the victim refused pay, the Chaits and Cernech were prepared to scuttle any future development plans with bogus claims of contamination at the site.

The affidavit by FDLE Special Agent Monica Baldo includes text messages obtained from the telephones of Bruce and Shaw Chait. Both men were arrested in March 2021. The text messages were from February and March 2021.

In February, the victim, after realizing Cernech was involved in the matter, requested a meeting with the Chaits. On March 1, 2021, the victim met the Chaits at a Coconut Creek restaurant. The FDLE monitored the entire meeting.

Two days later, Bruce Chait asked Cernech if it was “time to let the genie out of the bottle.” Cernech said, “He’s stalling…wait until they get a call from Bolton…he’s their 3rd vote, they need him or it’s over for them.”

Chait was still worried about his plan succeeding. “We still have the Bolton card to play,” Cernech said.

Later that day, Bruce Chait texted Cernech again. “Any thoughts how we can get to douche bags attention without dropping the [atom] bomb.”

Cernech replied, “Bolton.”

Chait responded, “Should I have [alleged co-conspirator John] Colonel send Bolton another letter.”

Cernech replied, “Just wait until Friday. He said he’d call you Thursday, yes?”

The affidavit does not go into further detail about Marlon Bolton role (if any) in this matter. Bolton did not respond to questions by REDBROWARD regarding the matter.

The Chaits along with Harris Shapiro and John Colonel were arrested a week later on racketeering and extortion charges.

Less than one month later, the Sun-Sentinel published its first story detailing changes to the travel budget of Tamarac Commissioners.

Marlon Bolton and fellow Commissioner Elberg Mike Gelin became extremely critical of Cernech after the Sun-Sentinel story. The two pushed for a leak investigation inside City Hall to find out the source(s) of the Sun-Sentinel story.

Now, Marlon Bolton is demanding an emergency meeting with his fellow commissioners regarding Cernech. Bolton said he read the arrest affidavit. He says he’s worried that Cernech is not barred from resuming his duties at City Hall.

Bolton said, “If no meeting is announced, then, in my opinion, my colleagues would have sent a clear message that your interest has taken a back seat on their priority list.”

But Bolton never addresses the fact he is mentioned by name in this very affidavit.

Shouldn’t Bolton reveal any communications with Cernech about the issue?

Did Bolton ever speak with Bruce Chait, Shawn Chait, Harris Shapiro or John Colonel about this matter? What was in the first letter sent by Colonel?

Did Marlon Bolton call Bruce and Shawn Chait as promised?

Don’t Tamarac residents deserve answers about Bolton’s role (if any) in the Woodlands mess?