Tampa Bay Business Journal: Global Resources Inc., which advertised business opportunities for public-access Internet machines at "lucrative locations" has been ordered to pay $2.2 million, including restitution to 96 people who the state says were defrauded out of their investments.
In the lawsuit filed by the Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commission, a Pinellas County circuit court judge ordered Global Resources, and its former owner Stewart Pope, to pay $960,000 in civil fines and more than a million dollars in restitution.
According to the commission, Global Resources advertised that it could provide buyers public access Internet machines for investments ranging from $8,000 to $108.000. However, the commission said that not only did the company not help in locating and setting up kiosks, it also failed to deliver the machines. Those trying to receive refunds were ignored, and dozens of people — including six from Florida — filed complaints with the agriculture commission.
