Orlando – Community activist Randy Ross has pled no contest to one count of insurance fraud after police accused him of falsely reporting about $30,000 in stolen lawn furniture in 2013.
His original charges were four felonies and a misdemeanor. Now, Ross is only on the hook for one second degree felony, according to his attorney, Roger Scott.
“He was placed on probation which can get finished within a year, he has 250 hours of community service and he has to pay for the investigation against him, a total of about $4,000,” Scott said. “This was a deal that everybody felt was fair, for the state and the defense.”
He added that this represents the end of the case – no more hearings or deals.
“This is something that lets [Ross] move on with his life and is fair for everyone,” Scott said.
Scott called the charges a “misunderstanding” and said Ross “filed police reports for things that happened and things that really were stolen.”
“He was trying to recreate paperwork he didn’t have anymore,” Scott said. “He wasn’t trying to create anything false, just was trying to recreate something lost and you’re not allowed to do that.”
This isn’t the first time Ross has made headlines. In 2014, he said Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell, who was an Orange County Commissioner at the time, didn’t do much in office except make babies and go on maternity leave. Ross has previously run unsuccessful campaigns for Orlando City Commission and the Orange County School Board. Most recently, he was slated to host a political TV show called “Front Porch Chat with Randy Ross & Friends.”
