Tag Archives: The Latino Vote

Shadowy SuperPAC Used Dale Holness & Gregory Tony Donors To Support Congressman Alcee Hastings

A shadowy SuperPAC supported the re-election of Congressman Alcee Hastings with contributions from supporters of Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness and Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony, Federal records show. As REDBROWARD reported last year, the People Of Principle PAC is tied to campaign operatives of Holness. Throughout 2020, the political committee repeatedly failed to report campaign finances to the Federal Elections Commissions (FEC). But on January 4, 2021, People of Principle PAC finally revealed its fundraising and spending totals.

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. 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. Omar Smith, the owner of A Star For I Inc, is Dale Holness’ campaign marketing guru.

During the 2020 election cycle, mailers and palm cards produced by People of Principle PAC urged voters to support black candidates in Broward and Miami Dade County. Dale Holness, Gregory Tony and others were featured on the cards. But, documents signed by Charmalin Brown on January 4, 2021 show all People Of Principle expenditures were made in support of Congressman Alcee Hastings.

Hastings, an impeached Federal Judge, is a longtime representative in Broward County. When he actually faces an opponent, they rarely make a dent in his vote totals.

Federal records show the Alcee Hastings campaign raised more than $600,000 for his 2020 re-election. Why did People of Principle PAC feel compelled to help Hastings coast to an overwhelming victory?

WHO ASKED HOLNESS/TONY DONORS TO HELP SUPERPAC?

In October 2020, Superior Hospitality Group of Windermere, FL gave $1,000 to People of Principle PAC. The company is owned by Tyrone Nabbie of Orlando. In 2019, Nabbie and his companies contributed $3,000 to Dale Holness’ campaign. Nabbie’s companies run concessions at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. Who asked Tyrone Nabbie to give money to an obscure Federal political committee based in Margate?

On July 14, 2020,Westway Towing gave $1,000 to People of Principle PAC. One day later, Westway Towing gave $2,500 to Dale Holness’ campaign. Who asked Westway towing to give money to People of Principle?

On August 13, 2020, Pierre Vilme gave $2,500 to People of Principle PAC. That same day, the Dale Holness campaign reported a $1,000 contribution from Vilme.

Also on August 13th, Winston Dumornay gave $500 to People of Principle and $1,000 to Dale Holness.

In December 2019, B & B Professional Consulting gave $1,000 to Dale Holness’ campaign. On October 3, 2020, B & B Professional Consulting gave $2,500 to People of Principle PAC. Earlier this month, REDBROWARD revealed B & B Professional Consulting is owned and operated by the aunt of Miami Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon.

On July 13, 2020 apartment complex companies owned by Krishna Persaud gave $5,000 to People of Principle PAC. Persaud, owner of the Jamaica Tallawahs cricket team, is a longtime supporter of Dale Holness.

In August 2016, REDBROWARD exposed Persaud’s financial support of The Latino Vote, another local shadowy political committee supporting the re-election of Dale Holness. Again this year, on July 24, 2020 Persaud’s Windsor Forest Apartments gave $4,000 to The Latino Vote.

Derrick Foster is another supporter of People of Principle PAC and The Latino Vote. Records show Foster gave $1,000 to People of Principle and $1,500 to The Latino Vote.

One supporter shared by Holness, Tony, Hastings and People of Principle PAC is Tamarac Commissioner Mike Gelin. In 2020, Gelin Benefits Group gave $2,000 to People of Principle PAC. Two of Gelin’s fellow Tamarac Commissioners were endorsed by People Of Principle PAC.

BROWARD FIRST?

Several People of Principle PAC donors made large contributions to Broward First, a political committee supporting Sheriff Gregory Tony.

Veterans Security Corporation of America gave $2,500 to People of Principle PAC. The company gave $1,000 to Broward First.

People of Principle PAC and Dale Holness donor Westway Towing gave $5,000 to Broward First.

In August 2020, Broward First made a large contribution to the South Florida Accountability Project, another local political committee. While this committee did not contribute to Holness’ campaign, the South Florida Accountability Project made payments to a companies tied Dale Holness’ family and campaign guru.

FLYER SMITH STRIKES AGAIN?

In September, REDBROWARD exposed yet another political committee tied to Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness.

In July 2020, Kayla Butler, a former Holness intern, created the Stronger Together Florida political committee located at a home on Barnstead Circle in Lake Worth with the telephone number (754) 444-6117.

This telephone number was used for third party groups conducting voter registrations. The same 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 address for All Broward Realty, Inc, a real estate company owned by Broward Mayor Dale Holness.

According to the State third party voter registration records and State corporate records, All Consulting And Marketing Inc. is owned by Richelle Holness, the daughter of Broward Mayor Dale Holness.

Records show the home on Barnstead Circle is the residence of Dale Holness’ ex-wife.

In July 2020, a brand new company using the same Barnstead Circle address made a big splash in local politics. On August 13, 2020 All Priority Consulting, Inc was paid $15,000 for mail media consulting by the South Florida Accountability Project. Less than month later, the South Florida Accountability Project paid $20,000 to Omar Smith’s A Star For I company for mail media consulting.

Why did Broward First contribute so much money to another political committee? Why did the South Florida Accountability Project pay a company located at the home Dale Holness’ ex-wife? Why did this committee pay Omar Smith.

As REDBROWARD documented for years, Omar Smith is repeatedly hired by these shadowy political committees. The People of Principle PAC is no exception. Most of the money raised by this super PAC was paid to Smith’s A Star For I company.

On August 3, 2020, A Star For I was paid $20,000 for marketing services in support of Alcee Hastings.

On August 21, 2020, A Star For I received $12,000 for working in support of Alcee Hastings.

Foreign Donor Operating Cricket Stadium Gave Big Bucks To Shady PAC Tied To Broward Commissioner Dale Holness (Again!)

The owner of a Jamaican cricket team made large contributions to a Federal political action committee (PAC) tied to Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness. In 2017, Holness was the driving force behind giving control of the Broward County-owned cricket stadium to Krishna “Kris” Persaud, the new owner of the Jamaica Tallawahs. As REDBROWARD reported, Dale Holness worked hard to give Persaud control of the $80 million dollar cricket facility along Sunrise Boulevard. Holness said, “Kris Persaud and his team members are willing to invest their own funds to help Broward County utilize [the] stadium to fulfill its mission of providing international cricket games that will not only bring tourists to Broward County, but also grow our economy and create jobs for the people of Broward County.” Campaign records show Kris Persaud was more than willing to invest his money in Dale Holness as well.

Last year, REDBROWARD revealed key members of Dale Holness’ campaign team tied to the shady People Of Principle PAC. This committee circulated mailers endorsing primarily black candidates in Broward and Miami-Dade county. Records show Holness’ longtime campaign marketing guru Omar Smith was tied to the “People Over Principle PAC.”

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.

For months, the PAC failed to file the required campaign reports documenting money raised and spent on political activities.

When the reports were finally filed after the November election, only the contributions were provided for review.

These Federal Elections Records show five companies owned by Kris Persaud made large contributions to the People Of Principle PAC. The companies represented Broward apartment complexes owned by Persaud. They were Canterbury Square, Golf Vilas Square, Lauder Ridge Apartments, Oakland Hills Square and Windsor Forest Apartments. On July 13, 2020 the five companies gave $5,000 to the People Of Principle PAC.

Amazingly, this was not the first time Kris Persaud gave money to a shady political committee with ties to Dale Holness.

THE LATINO VOTE

In August 2016, REDBROWARD exposed Persaud’s financial support of a local shadowy political committee supporting the re-election of Dale Holness. The Latino Vote funded by Persuad, the director of a Cayman Islands-based reinsurance company. Formed in 2015, The Latino Vote of South Florida political committee received its first contributions one year later. Four of the five contributions were the apartment developments owned by Persaud, the director of Oxbridge RE Holdings in the Cayman Islands.

Just like the People of Principle PAC, The Latino Vote failed to list expenditures even though its mailers were showing up all across Broward. The group’s card featured the likenesses of Holness and Congressman Alcee Hastings. The card was dubbed the “diversity ballot.”

The card urged voters to “increase diversity” by voting for African-American judicial candidates, but the real stars of the card were Hastings and Holness.

Records show companies owned by Persaud made direct contributions to Holness’ campaign. According to the Broward Supervisor of Elections website, in 2016, The Latino Vote made two $1,000 campaign contributions to the Dale Holness campaign.

This year, Persaud supported both shadowy PACs. On July 24, 2020 Persaud’s Windsor Forest Apartments gave $4,000 to The Latino Vote.

Why is Dale Holness tied to so many shadowy political committees?

Who keeps asking Dale Holness’ supporters to make big contributions to these political committees?

Why can’t these political committees follow the rules?

Does anyone care?