Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly responded to attacks linking him to financial adviser and businessman Leo Govoni, a Clearwater man accused and charged with stealing $100 million out of a trust fund for individuals with severe disabilities, in a lengthy post on social media message this week.
"These individuals and their families trusted Mr. Govoni with their futures. Instead, they have seemingly been robbed of their financial security and their peace of mind," Jolly said.
Jolly, the Florida Democratic Party's presumptive nominee for governor, worked for Govoni's Boston Finance Group with a hefty $229,000 salary as vice president beginning in 2012. His wife, Laura, also previously worked for another Govoni-led business, Boston Holding Company.
Govoni is accused of defrauding a separate company, the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration (CSNT), a company he co-founded with business partner John Leo Witeck in 2000. Witeck was also indicted in the scheme.
"More than a decade ago, I was an employee of Mr. Govoni at a separate company from which the theft later occurred. My wife Laura also worked at that separate company," Jolly said. "From public filings, his activities appear to have occurred almost exclusively after we left his employment, and we learned of these charges when the rest of the world did."
Jolly also emphasized an investigation into Govoni's alleged wrongdoings. Several victims of Govoni's scheme have been reported in the media, including a Pinellas Park woman who put $700,000 into a trust fund into CSNT after her leg was amputated in 2022.
The woman, Cheryl Martin, was later told $400,000 had been taken from the trust after CSNT declared bankruptcy in 2024. The stress of the scheme hit Martin hard, who also lost her other leg to diabetes, according to a longtime friend.
Martin eventually stopped taking medication for her disabilities and went on morphine before passing away at 61.
"Let's be very clear: the evidence strongly supports the charges. If proven true, his actions represent a raw cruelty that demands swift and absolute justice," Jolly said. "Every victim deserves to be made whole, and to the extent I can be helpful, I have offered my support."
But the relationship doesn't end there between Jolly and Govoni, who's trial is set for February 2027.
Govoni served as the finance co-chairman for Jolly's brief senatorial run in 2016. He also defended Jolly decision not to personally finance during his campaign.
In addition, Govoni donated nearly $150,000 to Jolly's congressional campaigns, according to Politico. Jolly also hired Govoni's son, L.J. Govoni, as a senior legislative assistant on his congressional staff in 2014.
Jolly denied any implications to Govoni's federal case.
"Unlike too many politicians today who hide behind lawyers or refuse to answer questions. I'm an open book, because when you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide, and because Florida's voters deserve leaders willing to answer questions and willing to earn your trust," Jolly said.
