The Brief
- This week marks two years since a St. Petersburg nonprofit that managed trust funds for thousands of disabled clients filed for bankruptcy, triggering a massive fraud investigation.
- Federal prosecutors accuse the organization’s founder, Leo Govoni, of stealing at least $100 million from more than 1,500 vulnerable clients over a decade.
- Govoni is now in federal custody, but families say the financial and emotional fallout continues with no clear end in sight.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Two years after the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration filed for bankruptcy, families who depended on the nonprofit say the damage caused by its collapse is still shaping their daily lives.
The nonprofit’s bankruptcy filing on February 9, 2024, set off a sweeping investigation that focused almost immediately on its founder, Pinellas County businessman Leo Govoni. Prosecutors allege Govoni siphoned off money meant to support people with severe disabilities, many of whom relied on the trust funds for lifelong care.
For Rebekah Bowman, the past two years have been defined by uncertainty as she cares for her son, Kienan Freeman, who has cerebral palsy.
“There are plenty of struggles,” Bowman said. “Every day is a toss-up.”…