MUR #6054

RESPONDENTS: 10-2002 LLC fka Suncoast Ford; 1099 L.C. d/b/a Venice Nissan Dodge; 11-2001 LLC d/b/a Hyundai of North Jacksonville; Bell, Carlo A.; Buchanan Automotive Holdings, Inc.; Buchanan, Vernon "Vern"; Caldwell, Donald M.; Combs, Brad S.; Gruters, Joseph R.; Kazran, Sam; Martin, Jason A.; Mullins, William F.; Prater, Jack; Sarasota 500, LLC d/b/a Sarasota Ford; Scarbrough, Gary J.; Vern Buchanan for Congress; White, Marvin L.

COMPLAINANT: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

SUBJECT: Contributions-Prohibited; Contributions-Limitations; Contributions-In the name of another

DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to take the following action in MUR 6054: Take no further action as to Represetative Vernon G. Buchanan, Vern Buchanan for Congress and Joseph R. Gruters, in his official capacity as treasurer, and close the file as to these respondents. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to take the following actions in MUR 6054: 1. Authorize the Office of the General Counsel to file a civil suit for relief in United States District Court against Sam Kazran and 11- 2001 LLC d/b/a Hyundai of North Jacksonville, as recommended in General Counsel?s Report #8 dated November 16, 2010. 2. Approve the appropriate letter.
The Commission failed by a vote of 3 - 2 to pass a motion to: a) Find probable cause to believe that 11-2001 LLC d/b/a Hyundai of North Jacksonville knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f.b) Find probable cause to believe that 11-2001 LLC d/b/a Hyundai of North Jacksonville knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. § 441a(a). c) Find probable cause to believe that Sam Kazran knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f.d) Approve the conciliation agreement, as recommended in General Counsel's Report #7 dated August 31, 2010.e) Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5 - 0 to pass a motion to:a) Find probable cause to believe that 11-2001 LLC d/b/a Hyundai of North Jacksonville violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f.b) Find probable cause to believe that 11-2001 LLC d/b/a Hyundai of North Jacksonville violated § 441a(a). c) Find probable cause to believe that Sam Kazran violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f.d) Approve the conciliation agreement, as revised pursuant to the meeting discussion and adjust the civil penalty accordingly.e) Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4 - 0 to take the following actions in MUR 6054: 1. Accept the conciliation agreement and close the file as to 1099 L.C. d/b/a Venice Nissan and Donald M. Caldwell, as recommended in General Counsel?s Report #6 dated August 11, 2010. 2.Take no further action and close the file as to Brad S. Combs. 3. Close the file as to Carlo A. Bell, Jason A. Martin, William F. Mullins, Jack Prater and Marvin L. White. 4. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 3 - 2 to: a) Find probable cause to believe that 1099 L.C. d/b/a Venice Nissan violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f. b) Find probable cause to believe that 1099 L.C. d/b/a Venice Nissan violated 2 U.S.C. § 441a(a). c) Find probable cause to believe that Donald M. Caldwell violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f. d) Approve the conciliation agreement, as recommended in General Counsel?s Report #4 dated June 2, 2010, subject to any necessary technical and conforming amendments to the conciliation agreement and the civil penalty. e) Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4 - 1 to: a) Find probable cause to believe that 1099 L.C. d/b/a Venice Nissan knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f. b) Find probable cause to believe that 1099 L.C. d/b/a Venice Nissan knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. § 441a(a). c) Find probable cause to believe that Donald M. Caldwell knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f. d) Approve the conciliation agreement, as recommended in General Counsel?s Report #4 dated June 2, 2010. e) Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5 - 0 to take the following actions in MUR 6054: 1. Find reason to believe that Vernon G. Buchanan knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. §§ 441f and 441a(f). 2. Find reason to believe that Vern Buchanan for Congress and Joseph R. Gruters, in his official capacity as treasurer, knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. §§ 441f and 441a(f). 3. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in General Counsel?s Report #2 dated March 9, 2010, subject to the revisions provided by the Office of General Counsel via electronic mail on March 15, 2010. 4. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to approve the following actions in MUR 6054 and Pre-MUR 479: 1.Open a MUR in Pre-MUR 479 and merge it into MUR 6054. 2. Find reason to believe that 11-2001 LLC d/b/a Hyundai of North Jacksonville knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f. 3. Find reason to believe that 11-2001 LLC d/b/a Hyundai of North Jacksonville knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. §§ 441a(a) or 441b(a). 4. Find reason to believe that Sam Kazran knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f. 5. Find reason to believe that 1099 L.C. d/b/a Venice Nissan Dodge knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. §§ 441f and 441a(a). 6. Find reason to believe that Donald M. Caldwell knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f. 7.Find reason to believe that Brad S. Combs violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f. 8. Take no action at this time with respect to Carlo A. Bell; Jack Prater; Jason A. Martin; Marvin L. White; William F. Mullins; Buchanan Automotive Holdings, Inc.; Sarasota 500, LLC d/b/a Sarasota Ford; Representative Vernon G. Buchanan; and Vern Buchanan for Congress and Nancy H. Watkins, in her official capacity as treasurer. 9. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the General Counsel?s Report dated May 26, 2009. 10. Authorize the use of compulsory process as to all Respondents and witnesses in this matter, including the issuance of appropriate interrogatories, document subpoenas, and deposition subpoenas, as necessary. 11.Approve the appropriate letters.