The former Carolina senator first appeared in federal court on Tuesday, facing two charges of stealing Brad Bondi, the brother of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, from the federal government’s Covid-19 relief fund.
The 30-year-old Windermere Republican was ordered by an Orlando judge to give up his passport and firearms, telling him that travel would be restricted. She is currently forbidden from going to Tallahassee, where she worked for two years at her Florida home, and her case is being rolled out in court.
Amesty has fraudulently won a $122,000 pandemic relief fund through foundations and car dealers who claim federal agents are not authorized to operate, according to criminal charges filed last month.
She is facing theft of two government property, each of which has been ceased to have up to 10 years in federal prison.
Amesty was surrounded by more than a dozen friends and family in a small courtroom.
Judge Robert M. Norway agreed to the defense’s request to postpone the preliminary hearing. Prosecutors must prove the cause that could continue through April 21st. The government was also allowed a similar extension for the Great Ju Court to return. Indicted.
Norway says Armty can travel to the Central Florida district (from Jacksonville to Fort Myers and to central Florida and Tampa Bay) and attend graduate school at the University of Miami, Washington, DC. He said he could visit Bondi’s office.
However, he denied Amesti’s request that he could visit Florida’s northern district, including the state’s capital.
“I am a former state representative and there are still issues that I have to travel to Tallahassee,” Amyty said.
“If you need to go to Tallahassee, your attorney can file a motion seeking permission to do so,” Norway said.
Norway also ordered comfort to abandon her passport and all firearms that own her. However, he allowed her fiance, the reserve sheriff’s deputies, to continue to own his service pistol. The rest, including the rifle, “has to go,” he said.
The federal complaint is just the latest complaint against Amesty, who became a controversial figure during her campaign for Congress in 2022.
An investigation by the Orlando Sentinel last year revealed allegations of forgery linked to a family-owned university, and she was charged in state court on four felony-related charges.
Amesty slightly lost her re-election bid in November, the only incumbent GOP MP lost in the Red Waves in 2024.
The state case concluded in December when the charges were rejected when Orange Os Theora State Attorney Andrew Bain, appointee of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, completed the community service and financial crime course. .
Government ethics regulations require that Pam Bondi, who was confirmed to serve as U.S. Attorney General on February 5th, be refusing to refusal from federal prosecution representing the party.
As attorney general, she oversaw all federal prosecutors, including the Florida Central District Office, which led to charges against Amesty.
Within hours of Amesti’s hearing in Orlando, the US Department of Justice announced that US attorney Roger B. Handberg, who revealed the charges last month, had lost his job.
“U.S. lawyers serve the president’s joy,” spokesman William Daniels said.
The first US lawyer, Sarah C. Sweeney, will serve as a US lawyer representing the district until appointed by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the US Senate.
Orlando Sentinel staff writer Cyrus Morgan contributed to this report.
