Articles
The following was released by the office of the Attorney General the week
of April 5, 2004.
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OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE CAPITOL
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-1050
CHARLIE CRIST
Attorney General
State of Florida
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: JoAnn Carrin
April 7, 2004
850-245-0150
Dick Kane
850-414-4590
Couple Arrested for $1.5 Million in Construction Contract Fraud
TALLAHASSEE -- Attorney General Charlie Crist and Florida Department
of Transportation Secretary José Abreu today announced the arrest of a
Central Florida couple for defrauding the state out of more than $1.5
million in road construction and maintenance contracts.
Dawn Michelle Calhoun, 34, of Orlando, and Robert Lee Calhoun, 38, of
Palm Bay, were charged with one count of first-degree organized fraud, one
count of second-degree conspiracy to commit organized fraud, and seven
counts of third-degree communications fraud. The couple allegedly
submitted documents to DOT falsely claiming that their crews had the
necessary safety certifications to work on Florida's roadways in order to
secure road construction and maintenance contracts for their company,
Calhoun Enterprises of Central Florida. The Calhouns received an initial
$430,000 based on these fraudulent documents.
"We will prosecute individuals who blatantly disregard the safety of
Floridians and steal taxpayer dollars," said Crist. "Citizens should feel
safe driving on our roads, and they certainly should not have to pay twice
to repair them."
Noting that national work zone fatalities have increased 55 percent
between 1997 and 2002, Secretary Abreu said his department is dedicated to
the reduction of work zone-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities
through increased training, public education and enforcement. Although
most contractors on state road projects are worthy of the public trust,
Secretary Abreu said these allegations must be aggressively pursued.
The two-year investigation of the Calhouns was conducted by DOT, the
Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution, and the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement.
Robert Calhoun was booked into the Brevard County Jail and Dawn
Calhoun, who also uses the name Dawn M. Carter, was booked into the Orange
County Jail. Bond for each was set at $15,000. If convicted of the
charges, the two face up to $60,000 in fines, 80 years in prison and
restitution.
