WIMAUMA, Fla. (WFLA) — A quarter of a million dollars is missing from a Wimauma, Florida, girl’s special needs trust, and her family wants to see those responsible held accountable.
“I would love to think that maybe all of this was just poor money management,” said Ashley McDowel, Mia’s mother. “I would love to think that.”
But McDowel believes otherwise. A federal bankruptcy judge found Pinellas County businessman Leo Govoni liable for $120 million in missing money. Families who entrusted Govoni with their money wonder if they’ll ever see any of it back.
Mia is 7 years old. Her mother said the family is in jeopardy of losing everything. Mia may end up in a group home without access to the missing trust fund money. Now, they want answers from the man they trusted to keep it.
“You’re looking at the person that called — why do you think the AG got involved? It was me,” said McDowel.
When McDowel wasn’t getting any answers about her daughter’s special needs trust, she knew something was wrong. An allergic reaction put Mia into cardiac arrest for 22 minutes, leaving her with severe brain damage. McDowel said she settled a federal medical malpractice lawsuit two years ago. Mia was awarded half a million dollars.
“We started a trust with the Directed Benefits Foundation back in 2023. I thought everything was fine,” said McDowel.
But soon, she realized everything was not fine. The Directed Benefits Foundation administers disability trusts. It’s Govoni’s not-for-profit that is missing millions of dollars. It’s also known as the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration.
“He was at the closing table for my settlement,” said McDowel. “I had sat down with … I’ve had dinner with this person. I truly trusted him, and I think that’s how some of us have gotten victimized because we never saw it coming.”
In this lawsuit filed in May, the Florida Attorney General’s office accuses Govoni and his associates of stealing $142 million from victims just like Mia.
“Know that there are those throughout this state that want to make sure that we are protecting the most vulnerable and those that would take advantage of them need to be held accountable,” said Ashley Moody, former Florida attorney general.
With Moody appointed to the Senate, McDowel is calling on the new attorney general to act fast.
“Take this with a fine-toothed comb and audit everything because it reeks that there’s something shady going on,” said McDowel.
While Govoni is at the focus of an FBI investigation, he has not been charged with a crime.
Investigative reporter Brittany Muller, with NewsNation local affiliate WFLA, asked Govoni: “What would you say to the disabled people who relied on you?” Govoni had no response.
But the quarter of a million dollars in missing money has left very few options for the McDowels.
“I might have to put her in a group home because I have to be able to work,” said Mia’s mother. “I have to be able to figure something out.”