Dave Aronberg

Dave Aronberg (born May 4, 1971) is the State Attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida and a former member of the Florida Senate. He was elected to the Senate in 2002 as its youngest member and served for eight years. He is a Democrat.^[3]

Dave Aronberg
State Attorney for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida
Incumbent
Assumed office 2012
Preceded by	Peter Antonacci
Member of the Florida Senate from the 27th district
In office 2002–2010
Preceded by	Tom Rossin^[1]
Succeeded by	Lizbeth Benacquisto^[2]
Personal details
Born	(1971-05-04) May 4, 1971 (age 52) Miami, Florida
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Lynn Lewis (divorced)
Residence	West Palm Beach, Florida
Alma mater	Harvard University (BA, JD)
Profession	Attorney

Prior to serving in the Senate, Aronberg worked as a lawyer in both the public and private sectors. He was serving as the Florida Attorney General’s “Drug Czar” in 2012 when he announced his candidacy for Palm Beach County State Attorney.^[4] He was first elected to the office in November 2012 and re-elected without opposition on May 6, 2016.^[5][6]

Early life and career

Aronberg was born in Miami. He is of Jewish descent.^[7] He attended North Miami Senior High School, and graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Government in 1993. He then attended Harvard Law School, where he received a Juris Doctor degree with honors in 1996.

After graduation, Aronberg worked for three years in the litigation department of the law firm, Steel Hector & Davis LLP, in Miami and West Palm Beach.^[8]

Holocaust victims insurance relief

Aronberg took a leave of absence from the law firm for three months in 1998 to work for U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, who at the time was serving as Florida’s Insurance Commissioner.^[8] Nelson and Aronberg worked together to investigate European insurance companies that refused to honor World War II-era policies sold to victims of the Holocaust.^[3] Working with members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the investigation led to the establishment of the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC) and the enactment of Florida's Holocaust Victims Assistance Act to ensure that insurance claims of Holocaust victims were expeditiously identified and properly paid, compensated, or returned.^[9][10]

Florida Assistant Attorney General - Economic Crimes

Aronberg worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the Economic Crimes Division of the Florida Attorney General's Office on two separate occasions. In 2000, President Bill Clinton selected Aronberg to be a White House Fellow. After the Fellowship was completed in September 2001, Aronberg returned to the Economic Crimes Division.^[11]

Phone-scam psychic "Miss Cleo" and the Psychic Readers Network

Aronberg investigated late-night television celebrity, Youree Harris, a/k/a "Miss Cleo," and the Psychic Readers Network for deceptive marketing practices.^[12] As part of the investigation, Aronberg obtained and released to the public a copy of Harris' California birth certificate, even though she was promoted as a shaman from Jamaica.^[13] Working with Florida and other states, the Federal Trade Commission fined Psychic Readers Network $5 million and forced it to cancel $500 million in customer bills.^[14]

White House fellowship

In 2000, Aronberg was selected to be one of 15 White House Fellows from across the country. In this non-partisan position, he served in two presidential administrations as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury Department for international money laundering, including the laundering of terrorist assets.^[15]

He was part of a U.S. delegation to an international summit on money laundering at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2001.^[16]

Florida Senate

Aronberg was elected to the Florida Senate in 2002 as its youngest member.^[3] He served as the Chair of the Military Affairs and Domestic Security Committee, and also chaired the Everglades Restoration Committee, where he advocated for additional state and federal funds to protect and restore the “River of Grass.”

Domestic security

As Chairman of the Florida Senate’s Military Affairs and Domestic Security Committee, Aronberg led a rewrite of Florida's port security law to better protect Floridians from terrorist threats. Aronberg’s 2009 bill, signed into law by Florida Governor Charlie Crist at a bill signing ceremony at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades, matched Florida security law to the federal requirements.^[17] The bill received unanimous support from labor unions and maritime businesses, leading the Associated Industries of Florida’s Maritime Council to name Aronberg as “Legislator of the Year” for his work to improve port security while expanding Florida’s global position as a leading exporter.^[18]

Public safety and criminal justice

Opioid abuse

When Aronberg was elected to the Florida Senate in 2002, he followed up on his investigation of Purdue Pharma by calling attention to the growing opioid crisis. In 2010, the Florida legislature enacted legislation co-sponsored by Aronberg to regulate the pain clinic industry and to limit the dispensing of narcotics such as oxycodone.^[19]

Anti-looting

In 2007, he was successful in passing an anti-looting law that increased penalties for specific thefts and burglaries committed after the Governor has declared a state of emergency.^[20][21]

Gang violence

During 2007 and 2008, Aronberg pushed the Legislature to pass tough anti-gang legislation. The language in Aronberg's proposal, which was enacted into law in 2008, increased penalties for habitual offenders convicted of gang-related crimes and stiffened sanctions for witness tampering and harassment. The legislation also banned gang members from possessing bulletproof vests during the commission of a crime.^[22]

Sexual violence

Aronberg sponsored a bill to eliminate the statute of limitations for child victims of sexual abuse. His bill, SB 870, passed both the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Crist.^[23] The Florida Coalition Against Sexual Violence named Aronberg its “Legislator of Year” of 2010.^[24]

Consumer protection and privacy rights

Regulating the credit counseling industry

In 2004, Aronberg sponsored Florida’s Credit Counseling Services Bill (SB 2682), which limited the fees credit counseling and debt repair companies could charge consumers.^[25]

Video voyeurism

In 2004, Aronberg proposed a bill to make video voyeurism a crime in Florida, which included the taking as well as the dissemination of the images.^[26]

Florida Attorney General candidacy

In 2010, Aronberg made a bid for the office of Attorney General of Florida.^[27][28] Aronberg was unsuccessful in the primary.^[29]

Special Prosecutor for Prescription Drug Trafficking ("Drug Czar")

In early 2011, based on Aronberg’s work on opioid abuse, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi reached across party lines to appoint Aronberg to be Special Prosecutor for Prescription Drug Trafficking, or "Drug Czar."^[30]

Palm Beach County State Attorney

In January 2012, Aronberg announced his candidacy for Palm Beach County State Attorney.^[31] Aronberg won the office with 58% of the vote in the November 6, 2012 election and was re-elected without opposition on May 6, 2016.^[32]

As State Attorney, Aronberg leads a team of 120 prosecutors and 220 professional staff in five offices throughout Palm Beach County.^[33]

In 2016, Aronberg was elected as an officer of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) and subsequently re-elected in 2017.^[34] He led an NDAA working group that published a national report to advise prosecutors and legislators of best practices in addressing the opioid epidemic.^[35] In November 2016, Aronberg traveled to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base as a representative of the NDAA to observe the prosecution of accused Al-Qaida terrorist Abdul al Hadi al Iraqi.^[36] In 2016, Florida Bar President Bill Schifino appointed Aronberg to the Florida Bar Board of Governors to represent government lawyers throughout the State. Aronberg was reappointed to two more terms by Florida Bar Presidents Michael Higer and Michelle Suskauer, respectively.^[37]

Task forces

In early 2016, Aronberg launched a task force to protect seniors from scams.^[38]

Sober Homes Task Force

Aronberg’s most notable task force is his Sober Homes Task Force, which has helped to clean up the fraud and abuse in the drug recovery industry in Palm Beach County, also known as "The Florida Shuffle."^[39] Since October 2016, the Task Force has made more than 85 arrests for patient brokering and insurance fraud, and has led to new Florida laws and regulations that have become the model for other states.^[40][41] Aronberg's efforts also convinced Google to restrict advertisements and improve screening for addiction treatment.^[42] The crackdown in rogue sober homes and corrupted drug treatment led to an approximate 40% decrease in opioid overdose deaths in Palm Beach County in 2018, compared to 2017.^[43] Aronberg's Task Force has received national attention for its work to combat the opioid epidemic, including a feature story on Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly on June 25, 2017, and a 60 Minutes interview on September 30, 2018.^[44][45] After testifying twice before Congress about federal laws that unwittingly incentive drug relapse over recovery, Aronberg launched a website to urge policymakers to "fix the Florida Shuffle."^[41]

Human Trafficking Task Force

In 2017, Aronberg formed a Human Trafficking Task Force with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and federal officials. The Florida Attorney General appointed Aronberg to the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking to represent all state prosecutors.^[46][47]

Animal welfare

Aronberg, who adopted his basset hound, Cookie, from Big Dog Ranch Rescue in 2011, personally prosecuted a felony animal cruelty case for his first trial as State Attorney.^[48]

In recognition of his efforts to fight animal cruelty, Aronberg received the national Wings Award by the Pegasus Foundation for his contributions to animal welfare.^[49]

First-time DUI offender program

In 2013, Aronberg launched a unique first-time DUI offender program that is the only one of its kind endorsed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Since the program’s inception, thousands of defendants have entered the program and very few have committed a DUI again.^{[50][51][52][53]}

The most well-known defendant to enter Aronberg's program was golfer Tiger Woods, whose 2017 DUI case made international news.^[54]

Corey Lewandowski case

Aronberg gained national media attention during the 2016 Presidential Election when he announced he would not move forward with a battery charge against Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump's campaign manager. Jupiter Police had charged Lewandowski with misdemeanor battery after former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields alleged that he grabbed her after a Trump press conference on March 8 at Trump International Golf Club.^[55]

Nouman Raja case

As State Attorney, Aronberg filed charges of manslaughter by culpable negligence and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm against Palm Beach Gardens police officer Nouman Raja for the killing of 31-year-old musician and housing inspector, Corey Jones, a black man who had been waiting for help on a highway after his car broke down.^[56][57] On March 7, 2019, a jury found Raja guilty as charged, making him the first officer in Florida to be convicted of an on-duty shooting in 30 years.^[58] Circuit Court Judge Joseph Marx sentenced Raja to 25 years in prison.^[59]

Morning Joe

Aronberg has become a weekly guest on MSNBC's Morning Joe to discuss legal issues, particularly those related to the criminal justice system.^[60]

Personal life

In May 2015, Aronberg married Lynn Lewis, a former Miami Dolphins cheerleader and now public relations professional, on St. Pete Beach;^[61] she is a convert to Judaism.^[62] They divorced in August 2017.^[63][61][62]

References

1. "Former Florida Senator Tom Rossin (D) | LobbyTools".
2. "Our Campaigns - FL State Senate 027 Race - Nov 04, 2008".
3. "Former Sen. Aronberg Brings Varied Experience". Gotowncrier.com. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
4. "Dave Aronberg". YouTube. 2012-01-19. Archived from the original on 2021-12-12. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
5. "Four more years for Dave Aronberg as candidate qualifying deadline passes | Post On Politics". Retrieved 2016-06-06.
6. Brett Clarkson. "A new state attorney for Palm Beach County, Election 2012". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
7. Nicol, Ryan (December 23, 2020). "Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg will again work the Christmas shift, allowing staff to stay home". floridapolitcs.com. Aronberg, who is Jewish and celebrated Hanukkah earlier this month...
8. "State Attorney Biography".
9. "Holocaust Restitution Claims". www.myfloridacfo.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
10. "Holocaust Era Insurance Claims". www.naic.org. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
11. "Aronberg says he's running for state attorney general". www.naplesnews.com. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
12. Lipka, Mitch (27 June 2002). "Miss Cleo invokes the Fifth in birth certificate testimony". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
13. Bean, Matt (March 15, 2002). "Psychic soothsayer's really a Valley girl". CNN.
14. ""Miss Cleo" Promoters to Forgive Approximately $500 Million In Outstanding Consumer Charges and Pay an Additional $5 Million to Settle FTC Charges". Federal Trade Commission. 2002-11-14. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
15. "About the Fellowship | The White House". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 2012-11-08 – via National Archives.
16. "Honoring State Senator Dave Aronberg". Capitol Words. Archived from the original on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
17. "Governor Crist Signs Bill to Streamline Port Security Requirements | The Jacksonville Observer". www.jaxobserver.com. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
18. "AIF" (PDF).
19. . Broward's Blog. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
20. "Florida Attorney General - Volume 3, Issue 18". www.myfloridalegal.com. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
21. "New anti-looting law increases penalties". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
22. "Florida Gang Bill Targets Homegrown Terror, Internet". Federal Jack. 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2017-09-19.
23. "Florida House of Representatives - SB 870 - Statutes of Limitation for Sexual Battery [SPSC]". www.myfloridahouse.gov. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
24. "Home | Florida Council Against Sexual Violence". www.fcasv.org. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
25. "CS/CS/SB 2682 - Credit Counseling Services". Florida House of Representatives. July 1, 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
26. DAVIS, RACHEL. "Nifty gadget or voyeurism tool? Lawmakers confront technology | Jacksonville.com". jacksonville.com. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
27. . Archived from the original on 2010-10-30. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
28. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/democrats-bright-stars-aronberg-gelber-getting-hea/nL8rY/ ^{[bare URL]}
29. "Bondi, Gelber heading for faceoff on who will be Florida's next attorney general".
30. Kamph, Stefan (2011-01-11). "Dave Aronberg, Pam Bondi's New Pick to Fight Pill Mills, Has His Work Cut Out for Him - Broward/Palm Beach - News - The Daily Pulp". Blogs.browardpalmbeach.com. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
31. Sanz, Alex (2012-01-19). "Dave Aronberg announcing his bid for Palm Beach County state attorney". Wptv.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
32. . Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
33. "Aronberg Touts Many Successes As New Term Starts | Town-Crier Newspaper". gotowncrier.com. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
34. "Dave Re-elected as an Officer of the National District Attorney's Association" (PDF).
35. Mower, Lawrence. "Palm Beach County State Attorney to lead prosecutors on opioid report". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
36. Travis, Scott. "Palm Beach County state attorney to witness Guantanamo trial". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
37. "Attorneys Gary Lesser, Dave Aronberg Reappointed To Florida Bar Positions | Town-Crier Newspaper". gotowncrier.com. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
38. Writer, John Pacenti - Palm Beach Post Staff. "Palm Beach County state attorney takes on elder fraud". www.mypalmbeachpost.com. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
39. "Progress in Cleaning up the Drug Rehab Industry" (PDF).
40. "State Attorney Biography". www.sa15.state.fl.us. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
41. "Fix The Florida Shuffle". www.fixthefloridashuffle.com. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
42. "Why It Took Google So Long to End Shady Rehab Center Ads". 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
43. Milian, Jorge. "Fatal opioid ODs down 42 percent in Palm Beach County, State Attorney says". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
44. "Fatal overdoses, fraud plague Florida's booming drug treatment industry". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
45. "Who's responsible for the opioid epidemic? Doctors or pharmaceutical companies?". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
46. "NEW: State Attorney Aronberg joins state human-trafficking council". palmbeachpost. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
47. "Aronberg credits task force with rise in human trafficking arrests". palmbeachpost. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
48. "Aronberg debuts as PBC felony prosecutor in dog abuse case". mypalmbeachpost. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
49. "Animal advocates promote change". TCPalm. Retrieved 2017-09-06.
50. "DUI First Offender Program" (PDF).
51. Figueredo, Lynda. "County offers unique DUI Diversion Program for first-time offenders". WPEC. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
52. Freeman, Marc. "First-time DUI offender monitoring program in Palm Beach County not for everyone". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
53. "What is the program Tiger Woods is entering for first-time DUI offenders?". mypalmbeachpost. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
54. "Prosecutors reveal new details of Tiger Woods's DUI court appearance, plea deal". Golf.com. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
55. "Trump's Campaign Manager Won't Be Prosecuted". NBC News. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
56. "Nouman Raja, charged in Corey Jones death, pleads not guilty | Post on Courts". Retrieved 2019-05-11.
57. Hauser, Christine (2019-03-07). "Nouman Raja, Ex-Officer, Is Convicted of Manslaughter in Shooting of Black Man in Florida". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-05-21.
58. "Raja guilty of manslaughter and attempted first-degree murder". WPTV. 2019-03-07. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
59. Duret, Daphne. "Nouman Raja sentencing: Raja sentenced to 25 years". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
60. Man, Anthony. "'Morning Joe' offers a jolt of legal analysis from South Florida's own Dave Aronberg". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
61. Marr, Madeleine (March 8, 2017). "Former Miami Dolphins cheerleader consciously uncouples from husband of two years". The Miami Herald. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
62. Kampeas, Ron (July 28, 2017). "Donald Trump drove apart this Jewish couple. They should have listened to their rabbi". Jewish Telegraph Agency. "She is always supportive of me," Dave Aronson writes at 2:53, "from changing her faith to softening her Republican principles."
63. Hollyfield, Amy (2017-03-03). . Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 2017-07-31. Retrieved 2017-06-23.

External links

• Dave Aronberg - State Attorney
• Sober Homes Task Force
• Dave Aronberg on Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Dave Aronberg (FL)