Florida Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Businessman Accused of Stealing Millions from Trust Funds

Pinellas County businessman Leo Govoni is facing more legal trouble after being hit with a lawsuit from the Florida Attorney General for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to steal millions from trust funds for people with special needs. The lawsuit accuses Govoni and his business partners of creating false accounting records to conceal their actions.

The civil complaint alleges that over $2 million is missing from trust fund accounts connected to Directed Benefits Foundation, a nonprofit operated by Govoni that oversees trusts for disabled clients. A judge has issued an injunction halting the foundation’s activities and freezing its officers’ assets.

“The Directed Benefits Foundation is supposed to provide crucial trust services to vulnerable populations; however, this nonprofit may have acted in bad faith with millions of beneficiaries’ monies being unaccounted for,” said Kylie Mason, a spokesperson for Attorney General Moody.

This latest lawsuit comes on the heels of accusations against Govoni in a separate case involving the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration, a nonprofit he founded. Govoni is accused of taking $100 million in loans from the Center that he never repaid, draining the accounts of at least 1,500 clients.

The controversy has now spread to Big Storm Brewing Co., a business owned by Govoni’s son, L.J. Govoni. An investor in the brewery has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Govoni family funneled money from the Center for Special Needs Trust into the brewery. The Govonis deny the allegations, claiming they are banking errors.

As the legal battles continue, the community is left wondering about the fate of the trust funds meant to support those with special needs. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.