Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yonnie3

(17,376 posts)
Wed Dec 7, 2022, 06:15 PM Dec 2022

Mr. Don't Say Gay of Florida has a problem

Joe Harding is an American politician and businessman serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 22nd district. A member of the Republican Party, he assumed office on November 3, 2020. He introduced Florida House Bill 1557, known by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. Wikipedia

Edit to add that the Twitter account for Joe Harding @josephbharding has disappeared.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/florida-state-representative-indicted-wire-fraud-money-laundering-and-making-false


Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Florida
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Florida State Representative Indicted For Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, And Making False Statements

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – A federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment against Joseph Harding, 35, of Williston, Florida. The indictment was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The Indictment alleges that between December 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021, Harding committed two acts of wire fraud by participating in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) and for obtaining coronavirus-related small business loans by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, and for the purpose of executing such scheme, caused wire communications to be transmitted in interstate commerce. The Indictment alleges that Harding made and caused to be made false and fraudulent SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications, and made false representations in supporting loan documentation, in the names of dormant business entities, submitted to the SBA. The Indictment further alleges that Harding obtained fraudulently created bank statements for one of the dormant business entities which were used as supporting documentation for one of his fraudulent EIDL loan applications. By this conduct, the indictment alleges that Harding fraudulently obtained and attempted to obtain more than $150,000 in funds from the SBA to which he was not entitled. Harding is also charged with two counts of engaging in monetary transactions with funds derived from unlawful activity related to his transfer of the fraudulently obtained EIDL proceeds into two bank accounts, and two counts of making false statements to the SBA.

Trial for Harding is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at 8:30 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida, before the Honorable United States District Judge Allen Winsor.

The maximum terms of imprisonment for the offenses are as follows:

20 years: Wire Fraud
10 years: Money Laundering
5 years: Making False Statements

The investigation was jointly conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Office of Inspector General, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Justin M. Keen and David P. Byron.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html."


14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Mr. Don't Say Gay of Florida has a problem (Original Post) Yonnie3 Dec 2022 OP
A really fine, upstanding republican. Biophilic Dec 2022 #1
oxy cilla4progress Dec 2022 #5
shocked i say dchill Dec 2022 #2
This message was self-deleted by its author wnylib Dec 2022 #3
Uh oh, is poor Joe Harding about to go through some things? gratuitous Dec 2022 #4
Kicking for visibility SheltieLover Dec 2022 #6
Just another witch-hunt. Chainfire Dec 2022 #7
What was the line in that John Lennon song? Instant karma's going to get you? 70sEraVet Dec 2022 #8
Oh, since he was the author of 'don't say gay': 'Don't incite - Indict'! 70sEraVet Dec 2022 #9
Get thrown in prison for fraud -- the rest of us will applaud. Sky Jewels Dec 2022 #12
Trial in five weeks? That'll be fun. rsdsharp Dec 2022 #10
Well... at least he's not gay (/sarcasm) MissMillie Dec 2022 #11
Kicked Wild blueberry Dec 2022 #13
DeSantis: "Who?" Evolve Dammit Dec 2022 #14

Biophilic

(3,477 posts)
1. A really fine, upstanding republican.
Wed Dec 7, 2022, 06:20 PM
Dec 2022

They keep telling us who they are. I believe them. Piles of shit.

Response to Yonnie3 (Original post)

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
4. Uh oh, is poor Joe Harding about to go through some things?
Wed Dec 7, 2022, 06:27 PM
Dec 2022

That's too bad. If he's found guilty on all counts, I'd hate to see him get a sentence socking him for the full 35 years. 34 years and 11 months should be sufficient to teach him a lesson and deter others.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Mr. Don't Say Gay of Flor...