A nonprofit initiative led by Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis is under criminal investigation following allegations of diverted public funds and failed legislative oversight.

At a Glance

• Hope Florida Foundation received $10 million from a Medicaid settlement with Centene.
• Funds were routed through nonprofits and later contributed to a pro-DeSantis PAC.
• The Florida House investigation was shut down due to lack of cooperation.
• State Attorney Jack Campbell launched a criminal probe on May 20, 2025.
• Allegations include money laundering, wire fraud, and governance failures.

Chain of Transfers

The Hope Florida Foundation, closely linked to First Lady Casey DeSantis, received $10 million in 2023 from a $67 million Medicaid fraud settlement with insurance giant Centene. While initially presented as an anti-poverty and child welfare initiative, the funds were routed through two other nonprofits—Secure Florida’s Future and Save Our Society from Drugs. Each later made contributions to Empower Parents PAC, a political action committee aligned with Governor Ron DeSantis. Legislative critics labeled the process a covert diversion of public funds for political use.

Watch now: Investigation into Hope Florida Foundation · YouTube

Legal Fallout and Transparency Gaps

After months of pressure, the Florida House opened an inquiry led by Rep. Alex Andrade, focusing on the chain of financial decisions and potential violations of state nonprofit law. However, the investigation was abruptly closed due to a lack of witness participation and limited subpoena power. On May 20, 2025, State Attorney Jack Campbell announced a formal criminal investigation into suspected money laundering, wire fraud, and potential ethical breaches involving state-contracted lawyers. Public records revealed missing bylaws, unfiled ethics disclosures, and absent tax documents within the foundation’s operations.

Political Implications

The scandal has intensified debate over the intersection of charitable foundations and political finance in Florida. Critics argue that the case exposes weak oversight of politically adjacent nonprofits receiving public funds. Though Governor DeSantis has not been directly implicated, the episode has prompted scrutiny of his administration’s financial network. Advocacy groups are calling for new legislation mandating transparent accounting and independent audits of all state-affiliated nonprofit entities.

Sources

Wikipedia
Orlando Sentinel
Miami Herald
Florida Phoenix
YouTube