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New Florida law includes stricter penalties for ripping off military veterans
By Nick Givas
Published October 01, 2020
A series of Florida laws passed during this year's legislative session went into effect on Thursday, one of which makes it a felony to attempt to financially swindle a veteran out of $50,000 or more.
This bill amends the White Collar Crime Victim Protection Act to say someone "commits an aggravated white-collar crime if he or she obtains or attempts to obtain $50,000 or more by committing at least two associated white-collar crimes against 10 or more veterans."
The action will now be considered a first-degree felony, "ranked at a level 9 out of 10 possible levels for incarceration purposes on the offense severity ranking chart of the Criminal Punishment Code."
People convicted of breaking the new law would also have to pay court costs and restitution associated with each of their victims.
The court may also order payment of a $500,000 fine, or "double the value of the pecuniary gain or loss, whichever is greater."
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The bill had similar protections for senior citizens within the text, in an effort to discourage the financially fraudulent schemes often carried out against the elderly.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-florida-law-includes-stricter-penalties-for-ripping-off-military-veterans