News

• May 16, 2012 CFO Jeff Atwater Announces Arrest of Senior Scammer for $2 Million Investment Fraud Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced today the arrest of former insurance agent Neal Seth Smalbach, 49, of Palm Harbor, for grand theft in misrepresenting details of financial products to multiple senior clients who allegedly suffered losses of more than $2 million in unsuitable financial investments. 
• May 10, 2012 CFO Jeff Atwater Announces Arrest of Miami Boat Captain in Sinking of $1.86 Million Yacht Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced the arrest today of a Miami boat captain on a first-degree grand theft charge for allegedly sinking a $1.86 million yacht in 2009 off the Bahamas. Robert Figueredo, 49, was arrested by detectives from the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF).
• May 07, 2012 Statement from Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater on the Signing of SB1208/HB7111 Consumer Protection against Identity Theft Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today released the following statement regarding Governor Rick Scott’s signing of HB7111. The bills close a public records loophole that allowed certain groups to obtain social security information from CFO Atwater’s Bureau of Unclaimed Property. 
• May 07, 2012 Statement from Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater on the Signing of HB 725 Further Reducing Regulatory Burdens
  Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today released the following statement regarding Governor Rick Scott’s signing of HB725. The bill consolidates 49 insurance agent and agency license types into seven master categories and provides parity for small businesses that purchase workers’ compensation, thus ensuring that all corporations and partnerships are treated equally while allowing them to submit electronic certificates of insurance.
  
• May 07, 2012 CFO and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater Recognizes Arson Awareness Week Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater today recognized May 6-12, 2012, as Arson Awareness Week. The theme of the week is Prevent Youth Fire Setting. Between 2005 and 2009, fires started by children accounted for an average of 56,300 fires, the loss of 110 civilian lives, 880 civilian injuries and $286 million in direct property damage per year in the United States.