[Fort Worth, TX] Yesterday, it was announced that the parent company of American Airlines was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The airline is a heavy player in Florida’s air travel market with planes at 12 airports across the state offering service to 116 worldwide destinations.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott took the opportunity to reassure American’s employees and those citizens that depend on the airline that flights and service will resume as normal under bankruptcy proceedings.

“[Yesterday] I spoke with American Airlines Vice President Kevin Cox regarding the company’s decision … Kevin has assured me that American Airlines is continuing to provide regularly scheduled flights and services throughout the reorganization process,” said Scott through a prepared statement. “I know this was a difficult decision for the company, and it is certainly difficult news for the Floridians who are employed by the carrier.”

It may not have been that difficult of a decision. American Airlines‘ parent company, the AMR Corporation, said in a statement that it was looking to reduce its large debt and cut labor costs through the bankruptcy process, something that several of its competitors – as AMR pointed out – have already done.

“I am relieved that the company will continue operations throughout this process, and I am optimistic that this reorganization will better position American Airlines to be a profitable company and enable them to add jobs in Florida,” added Scott.

AMR, which still has $4.1 billion in cash on hand, promises to keep its AAdvantage Program flying as well as continuing employee pay and benefits.

“Our customers remain our top priority and they can continue to depend on us for the safe, reliable travel and high quality service they know and expect from us,” said Thomas W. Horton, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of AMR and American Airlines.

Horton, who’s comments were distributed via press release, is the newly installed boss at AMR/American, which was also announced yesterday. He succeeds Gerard Arpey, who retired.

Horton added that, “We intend to maintain a strong presence in domestic and international markets, including our cornerstones in Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Miami and Los Angeles.”

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Airbus S.A.S. 2011 (Computer Rendering by Fixion, via American Airlines)

American Airlines

[Austin, TX] Texas governor Rick Perry – one of the top Republican presidential contenders for 2012 – has his eye on winning Florida.

He’s breaking out the big guns, possibly to counteract all the negative press he has gotten as of late for his poor debate performances and falling poll numbers.

The Mouth from Texas has assembled an all-star team to try to help him win Florida, a crucial state for Perry if he wants to gain any traction moving forward.

And the Sunshine Stakes are even higher, especially after Florida has bumped up its primary date to Jan. 31.

“I am proud to have these hard-working individuals join our campaign efforts in Florida,” said Gov. Perry in a campaign press release. “They are crucial assets to my campaign team as we work together to share my plan to get America working again.”

So who are these crucial assets?

Ashley McElheny, Southeast Florida Field Director: McElheny was Marco Rubio’s regional field manager for his 2010 campaign for U.S. Senator and Charlie Crist’s southwest Florida district director during his run for Governor of Florida. She is a Republican Party of Florida operative going back to 2004. She also worked on inaugural committees for President Bush and Gov. Rick Scott.

Craig Briscoe, Southwest Florida Field Director: Briscoe served as Lee County Chairman for John McCain’s presidential campaign.

Lazaro Fields, South Florida Field Director: Fields worked as a field coordinator for State Rep. Carlos Trujillo’s successful campaign for the Florida House.

Todd Lewis, West Central Coast Field Director: Lewis was Marco Rubio’s Central Florida regional and coalitions director for his campaign for the U.S. Senate. He also served as State Sen. Carey Baker’s campaign manager during his for run for Agricultural Commissioner of Florida.

Jose Romano, Tampa Bay Region Field Director: Romano is an Executive Office of the Governor veteran, having held a variety of positions including in Economic Development, External Affairs, and as Chief of Staff.

Mike Shirley, Central Florida Field Director: Shirley was Rick Scott’s Central Florida field coordinator during his campaign for Governor of Florida.

Ash Mason, Northeast Florida Field Director: Mason has worked on many statewide legislative campaigns including State House Speaker Larry Cretul’s 2006 re-election bid as well as the 2008 campaigns of State Rep. Rachel Burgin and State House Speaker Pro-Temp John Legg. Mason also served both State House Speaker-Designate Will Weatherford and State Rep. Ed Hooper as their senior legislative assistant.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

[Miami, FL] On Tuesday, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida announced that a a trio of psychics had plead guilty to wire and mail fraud and are scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14 in a Ft. Lauderdale courtroom before U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas.

According to court documents, Bridgette Evans, 32, of Deerfield Beach, Pollie (or Polly) Evans, 36, formerly of Texas, and Olivia Evans, 22, also formerly of Texas, were scheming people by claiming that they had the ability to “cleanse” them or their loved ones of evil spirits.

All they needed to perform this miracle was a large sum of money – not to spend, mind you – but to hold. They promised that they would only keep a small evil-spirit-handling fee after the deed was done.

The self-styled psychics or spiritual healers advertised their services in newspapers and on the internet. Their “ability” also appears to be familial: Bridgette and Pollie are sisters and Olivia is Pollie’s daughter-in-law.

As far back as 2007, the trio has been duping people into handing over large sums of money – or in several cases – super-expensive Rolex watches via Western Union, MoneyGram or FedEx. And many people did just that, hoping to turn their life around, or the life of another.

L-R: Pollie, Olivia & Bridgette

The problem is that the women never gave back any of the money. Or the Rolex watches. Well, the law finally caught up with the women as Bridgette was in front of a Florida-based judge on June 1, while Pollie and Olivia were arrested Friday in Fort Worth, Texas.

They sure loved those Rolexes. In one case highlighted in court documents, Olivia instructed her “customer” to purchase a Rolex watch with a prism because “the watch was needed to be used as a vortex for demons to return to hell.”

Unbelievably, this worked. Time and time again (ahem).

Overall, it is estimated that Bridgette received approximately $232,079 from victims, although court proceedings are only focusing on $59,000 of that money collected by all three fraudsters.

The three women each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

So, Who Is Susan Meyers?

Bridgette Evans is also known as Susan Meyers, “Master Love Psychic.” She was also known, according to court documents, as Tina Moore and Kiana Moore. But Susan Meyers was, and is, the most high-profile of the bunch of aliases used by Evans – “she” still has a website up with all sorts of claims of supernatural ability and client testimonials.

“I am superior in voice vibrations no matter how far you are, your life is an open window to me! Call for the psychic reading you will never forget!”

Indeed. She then tells you to have a blessed day and reminds you that she is available 24/7 before giving you her cell phone number … that ends in 6-6-6, no less.

Then there are the “testimonials,” such as the one from “John” in Towson, Maryland: “I am AMAZED! I thought all hope was lost when I contacted you regarding my fiance. A few days after my reading she called (exactly as you predicted!). … I was ready to give up until we spoke. Thank You Susan! Without your help I would have lost my Soulmate (sic). … Your advice was right on point.”

I’m just gonna go out on a limb here and say “John” doesn’t exist. And neither does Cynthia from New York or Maryellen from Sarasota, who felt, “confused, lonely, & disillusioned. I contacted you for a Psychic love Reading. You told me I needed a spiritual aura cleansing. … You predicted my life would turn around for the better. Well you were completely correct.”

I wonder if Cynthia ever bumped into “JK” in New York, one of Susan Meyers’ victims mentioned in court papers. Bridgette (as Susan Meyers) instructed JK to buy a Rolex watch at a store with a 30-day return policy and send it to “Susan Meyers” in Dallas via FedEx on March 31, 2011.

The watch – a blinged-out piece with a stainless steel pink dial containing flowers and 18k gold – was recovered from a Hollywood, Florida, pawn shop, where it had been cashed-in by … Bridgette’s husband.

A family that preys together … stays together.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Olivia Evans

[Miami, FL] Two smugglers face charges related to the selling of exotic animal skins in Florida and elsewhere, according to an  indictment unsealed last week.

Elias Garcia Garcia, 52, and Maria Angela Plancarte, 52, both of La Feria, Texas, were arrested and charged as they crossed the U.S.  border at Brownsville, Texas from Mexico. The pair are being moved to the Southern District of Florida to face the wrath of Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald for violating the Endangered Species Act and the federal conspiracy statute.

A court date with U.S. District Court Judge Joan A. Lenard awaits them in the in Miami.

Garcia and Plancarte reportedly made frequent trips to South Florida, with the purpose of selling jaguar skins. They also were trying to move jaguar skins in Texas and through the internet. In November of last year, Garcia and Plancarte sold pelts to undercover FWS agents in Texas and in Homestead, Florida, for thousands of dollars.

The jaguar skins were going for $3000-$4000 each. Agents were also able to negotiate for future skins by laying down deposits.

If convicted, the defendants each face a possible term of imprisonment of up to five years in jail on the conspiracy count, and up to one year on the two counts charging violations of the Endangered Species Act.

The Endangered Species Act makes it illegal “to deliver, carry, transport, ship, sell, or offer for sale any species of wildlife, or the dead body or parts” of animal species protected under the act. The jaguar (Panthera onca) is listed as an “Endangered Species.”

Many agencies were involved with the investigation and arrest, including the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and both the Miami and San Antonia branches of the Office of Law Enforcement.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

In his weekly radio address, Gov. Rick Scott (R) talked up Florida’s third-place finish in the annual tally published by Chief Executive Magazine, which rated each state’s business environment. Last year, Florida ranked sixth.

But the business-minded governor wasn’t wholly impressed with the results and looks to improve Florida’s ranking over the next couple of years, obviously aiming to unseat seven-time champ Texas.

“I congratulated Texas Governor Perry for his state’s admirable achievement,” said Scott of his fellow Republican leader. “In the spirit of good-natured competition, I also warned him that 7 years at the top is long enough, and Florida is pushing to be no. 1 in job creation.”

The cheerleading continued …

“I am 100 percent confident we can achieve this goal. I am confident because Florida is the best place to live,” said Scott, sans pom-poms. “People from all over the world visit Florida and dream of living here year round.”

He also talked about the budget, although he didn’t say much (was there a time limit?).

“The budget meets my 3 core principles of cutting the size and cost of government, and passing the savings on to taxpayers and businesses in the form of tax cuts,” pronounced Scott. “I can tell you, though, that there will be additional savings. … In these tough economic times, we must ensure every hard-earned tax dollar is used wisely… .”

Download Gov. Scott’s weekly radio address in mp3 format

- Mark Christopher

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