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To: Paisan
Zimmerman and his wife controlled at the time at least $135,000 in donations Zimmerman solicited...

I take issue with every verb in the above excerpt.


Why?

Mr. Zimmerman had created a website and Paypal account as an avenue to collect donations. On the website he stated he would personally maintain accountability of all funds received.

solicitation

That action IN ITSELF is a crime, and Zimmerman and/or his wife may suffer a penalty beyond having the bail revoked for having done so.

Florida Statutes, CHAPTER 496, SOLICITATION OF FUNDS

496.413 Contributions solicited for or accepted on behalf of a named individual.—

(1) Contributions solicited for, or accepted by or on behalf of, a named individual must be deposited in a trust account opened by a trustee named in a properly established trust document or must be deposited in a depository established in accordance with s. 69.031. The circuit court has jurisdiction over the contributed funds placed in such depository accounts.

(2) Disbursements of contributions may be properly made from a trust account only upon written verification from the trustee that the disbursement is in furtherance of the purpose for which the funds were solicited, with documentation reflecting the identity of the proposed payee and the justification for the proposed payment. Disbursements of contributed funds from a depository account may be made only as allowed by the court. When a trust account is to be closed and a balance remains in that account in excess of the amount needed for the benefit of the named individual, such excess funds may be transferred to another trust account for the benefit of another named individual who is in the same or similar circumstances.

(3) Any person or organization that violates the provisions of subsection (1) or subsection (2) is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. History.—ss. 12, 26, ch. 91-208; ss. 15, 19, ch. 94-287.

Mr. Zimmerman and his wife had four recorded conversations about the money. During two of the conversations Mrs. Zimmerman was at their Credit Union and George spoke directly with bank officials.

They transferred money from the Paypal account into multiple Credit Union accounts. Credit Union statements dated 4/19, the day before the bond hearing, show they had access to over $135,000.00 in cash.

control

13 posted on 06/05/2012 5:37:29 AM PDT by Beach_Babe
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To: Beach_Babe

Those funds were put in a trust account a few days after the bond hearing. GZ reported them at his first meeting with O’mara.

GZ’s new bond should be the same, as he’s in the same financial status he claimed to be at the hearing.

http://gzlegalcase.com/index.php/press-releases/24-details-regarding-the-request-for-a-second-bond-hearing-for-george-zimmerman

“It must be noted that, when attempting to interpret George’s actions regarding the funds, that he did disclose the existence of the funds five days after the bond hearing, during his first conversation with the defense about the fund. When the defense team learned of the funds, we disclosed this to the court and to the State Attorney’s Office, and the money was transferred to the Legal Defense Fund which is now independently managed.

Of the original $204,000 raised by Mr. Zimmerman’s fund, approximately $150,000 was transferred to the Legal Defense Fund. $30,000 was used to make the complicated transition from private life in Sanford, FL to a life in hiding as a defendant in a high-profile court case. The balance of approximately $20,000 was kept liquid to provide living expenses for the first several months as the legal process unfolds.”


14 posted on 06/05/2012 5:43:27 AM PDT by ltc8k6
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To: Beach_Babe

But wouldn’t the funds have to be used for his legal defense, which means he couldn’t use the funds for other purposes?


22 posted on 06/05/2012 7:33:33 AM PDT by aimhigh
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