TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has issued subpoenas to RAD Diversified REIT, Inc., its subsidiaries, and its owners, Brandon “Dutch” Mendenhall and Amy Vaughn, following serious allegations of deceptive investment practices and possible violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The development was first reported by Florida National News (FNN News) as complaints from Floridians surfaced regarding the company’s real estate investment offerings.

Allegations of a Real Estate Ponzi Scheme

According to Florida National News, Mendenhall and Vaughn, known as internet personalities and real estate seminar hosts, allegedly solicited investments from Floridians under the promise of acquiring income-generating real estate through their RAD Diversified REIT and subsidiaries. However, numerous investors claim they have been unable to withdraw funds or receive promised returns, raising suspicions of a Ponzi-style scheme.

“Our office has received complaints that a popular internet duo selling real estate investment services through their fund is pocketing cash instead of buying properties as advertised,” said Attorney General Uthmeier in a statement to FNN News. “This appears to be a Ponzi scheme, and with several individuals claiming they’ve been exploited, we are investigating to ensure Floridians are not being deceived by greedy fraudsters.”

Subpoenas Seek Financial, Marketing, and Customer Records

Uthmeier’s subpoenas demand that RAD Diversified REIT and its owners produce a comprehensive list of records by July 18, 2025, at 9 a.m., including:

• Investor communications

• Customer complaints and refund requests

• Operational and procedural manuals

• Investment offering statements and prospectuses

• Social media and promotional marketing materials

• Financial records and bank statements

• Stockholder and real estate holdings documentation

The investigation aims to verify whether RAD Diversified REIT possesses real estate assets equivalent to the amount invested by its clients.

Special Counsel, AG’s Office, and Florida National News Coverage

Special Counsel Ellen Lyons and Senior Assistant Attorney General Miles Vaughn are leading the case for the Attorney General’s office. As of this report, Florida National News continues to monitor developments closely, providing updates as new details on subpoenas, court actions, and investor claims emerge.

FNN News remains committed to delivering breaking legal, business, and consumer protection news across Florida and beyond.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed $5.7 million in funding for public radio and television stations as part of his 2025-2026 state budget, marking a significant move in line with a national push to defund public media. The vetoes, announced June 30, follow growing conservative calls to reduce or eliminate government support for public broadcasting.

The Florida Channel Avoids the Budget Axe

While public stations faced deep cuts, The Florida Channel — a state-funded service that broadcasts government meetings and press conferences — remained fully funded. The channel, financed directly by the Florida Legislature, continues to stream the governor’s press events, legislative sessions, and public board meetings statewide.

DeSantis’ vetoes eliminated $1.3 million intended for public radio stations and about $4.4 million for public television stations, including a recommended $370,400 cut per TV station from Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. Public radio stations were slated to receive $100,000 each before the veto.

Public Media Stations Face Uncertain Future

Major Florida public broadcasters are now assessing how the budget cuts will impact their operations. The immediate effect on staffing levels, programming, and station viability remains unclear.

Nationally, public media has become a partisan issue, with former President Donald Trump earlier this year urging lawmakers to defund public media outlets. While DeSantis has not publicly commented on the issue, his veto aligns with these broader efforts.

A request for comment from the governor’s office remains pending.

What’s Next for Florida’s Public Radio and Television?

In the wake of the vetoes, station leaders are expected to make difficult decisions in the coming weeks, weighing potential layoffs, reduced programming, and alternate funding options. Industry analysts say the cuts could disrupt local news coverage, arts programming, and educational content across Florida.

Meanwhile, The Florida Channel’s continued funding highlights a strategic preference for government-run media outlets over independent public stations. Advocates for public media warn that without state support, community-driven programming may shrink or disappear in some regions.

_________________________________________________________________________________

HIGHLAND, Fla. (FNN) — Florida’s new migrant detention center, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” officially opened today with President Donald Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis participating in a high-profile roundtable to mark its inauguration. The facility, located deep within the Everglades at the abandoned Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, is designed to house up to 5,000 undocumented migrants in heavy-duty tents and trailers.

The project has ignited fierce backlash from environmental groups, Native American tribes, and legal advocates, who argue it threatens one of the world’s most delicate ecosystems while raising humanitarian concerns.

What is Alligator Alcatraz?

Nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” for its remote, marshy location surrounded by native alligators and invasive Burmese pythons, the facility is intended as a deterrent-based migrant detention center. The concept was championed by Governor DeSantis, who once remarked, “From a security perspective, if someone escapes, there’s a lot of alligators. No one’s going anywhere.” The facility occupies the site of a long-defunct airport project abandoned in the 1970s after experts warned it would devastate the Everglades ecosystem.

Despite heavy criticism, the detention center is set to begin intake operations within days.

Legal and Environmental Battles Heat Up

Just last week, Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and Miami-Dade County. The suit claims the project bypassed essential federal environmental reviews and public comment requirements.

Environmentalists and tribal leaders warn the detention center threatens endangered species like the Florida panther and risks polluting sensitive Everglades waters. Eve Samples, Executive Director of Friends of the Everglades, called the project “cruel and reckless.” Elise Bennett of the Center for Biological Diversity added, “This reckless attack on the Everglades — the lifeblood of Florida — risks polluting sensitive waters and turning more endangered Florida panthers into roadkill.”

Tania Galloni of Earthjustice emphasized the legal flaws, noting, “This plan has had none of the environmental review that’s required by federal law. Cruelty aside, it defies common sense to put a mass of people, vehicles, and development in one of the most significant wetlands in the world.”

Trump, DeSantis Double Down Despite Backlash

President Trump’s visit signals continued federal support for expanding detention capacity and aggressive immigration enforcement. Governor DeSantis has remained a vocal defender of the project, emphasizing what he describes as “natural deterrents” surrounding the facility.

Both leaders framed the site as a necessary measure to manage rising border apprehensions and relieve pressure on urban detention facilities.

Despite mounting legal challenges and national media scrutiny, Florida officials confirmed intake operations at “Alligator Alcatraz” will begin this week.