TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today took legal action against the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence and former CEO Tiffany Carr for misappropriation of public funds and private donations. The court filings follow a Florida House investigation and media reports uncovering that FCADV paid former CEO Tiffany Carr $7.5 million over three years. According to reports, while Carr received millions of dollars, domestic violence shelters and survivors statewide suffered significant funding shortages.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “I am disgusted at the mismanagement and misuse of public funds meant to help the survivors of domestic violence and their children recover. The damage caused by the greedy actions of Ms. Carr and the leadership at FCADV will take time to repair, but today’s legal actions are aimed at recovering as much of the wasted money as possible and giving a court appointed receiver immediate control over this troubled nonprofit that is charged with providing funding to Florida’s 42 domestic violence shelters.
“I want to commend the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, and the Florida House and Senate for taking action this legislative session to ensure victims of domestic violence receive the services they need to heal in a safe, secure environment.”
Attorney General Moody today filed a complaint and Emergency Motion to Appoint Receiver and for Entry of a Temporary Injunction to Preserve the Assets of the FCADV. The motion asks the court to appoint a receiver to take over control of FCADV to preserve assets and forensic evidence as multiple investigations into the misappropriation of funds progress.
The complaint seeks to responsibly dissolve or reorganize the nonprofit once evidence is collected, funds are rightfully recovered, and another entity can take over the duties assigned to FCADV. The Attorney General’s goal is to assist investigators by preserving evidence, while ensuring survivors of domestic violence and their children receive funding, donations and services.
The complaint also seeks to recover all or at least part of the $7.5 million paid to Carr. According to an ongoing Florida House investigation, two top FCADV officials testified that Carr ordered them to redirect state grant money from the Florida Department of Children and Families to fund excessive executive compensation—including bonuses and Paid Time Off. According to the investigation, Carr cashed out the PTO account before leaving FCADV and collected approximately $4 million and subjected FCADV to nearly $1 million in tax liability.
The Florida Attorney General’s Office filed the complaint and motion today in Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit in Leon County.
