Read Chris, Sonja Luker Arrest Reports
April 8, 2011
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrest reports for Sonja and Chris Luker provide details as to why investigators believe Chris and Sonja Luker are guilty of fraud and grand theft in an alleged faked cancer scheme.
Not only do the reports provide insight into the alleged scheme, they also detail more than 50 items of evidence gathered and witnesses in the case.
To read the Sonja Luker arrest report, click here.
To read the Chris Luker arrest report, click here.
Many More Details Released In Fake Cancer Arrest
April 8, 2011
We now know much more about the case of a Molino husband and wife charged with raising thousands of dollars over several years from people who thought she was dying from terminal cancer when, in fact, deputies say she never had cancer at all.
Sonja Marsell Luker, 42, and Gerald Christopher “Chris” Luker, 43, were both booked into the Escambia County Jail Wednesday felony charges of fraud and grand theft. Both were released from jail on $10,000 bond each within hours of their arrests.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, numerous fundraisers were held between May 2004 and October 2010 that raised over $19,000. Evidence shows that about $14,000 was used to avoid foreclosure on their home in 2009 and about $4,000 in cash was used by Chris Luker to purchase a 1997 Harley motorcycle.
The Sheriff’s Office investigation found that Chris and Sonja Luker personally received money from friends, family, church members and co-workers under a “scheme” that Sonja Luker was being treated for cancer. Investigators believe both Chris and Sonja Luker are guilty of fraud in the scheme; witnesses said the couple was observed together at fundraisers talking about her cancer treatments.
Evidence shows that in a Facebook message to Christa Wilson, Sonja Luker stated, “Then came that I couldn’t show anywhere I had cancer but in 199 when I had a (information redacted). I fooled my whole family with this and don’t remember a lot about it”. In addition, investigators obtained letters written by Sonja Luker that indicated she did not have cancer.
Over 50 different pieces of evidence were collected by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office over the course of several months. But one key piece was missing — authorities say there was no shred of evidence ever provided by Sonja Luker that she suffered from any type of cancer.
Sheriff’s investigators obtained documentation from banks, insurance companies, hospitals and doctors that showed Sonja Luker did not have cancer and was never treated for cancer during more than six years of fundraisers. Additionally, investigators found that Sonja Luker was never treated at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Texas as claimed. Her medical records, deputies said, never included any mention of cancer.
Luker even tried to obtain money from the Chevron Humankind Employee Community Involvement program for her supposed battle with cancer.
None of the other persons involved in any of the fundraisers are suspected of any crime, investigators said. Many of the persons involved in the fundraisers are considered victims in the case.
Chris and Sonja Luker are scheduled to make their first court appearances on April 28 before Escambia County Circuit Judge Joel Boles.
Pictured above: Sonja and Chris Luker (in black shirts) are seen in these 2009 NorthEscambia.com photos from a motorcycle ride fundraiser that benefited her alleged fight against cancer. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Deputies: Cancer ‘Miracle’ Was A Huge Lie; Church Reacts To News
April 8, 2011
She stood in front of the congregation at Highland Baptist Church in Molino with a handwritten sign on a piece of cardboard, claiming a miracle. But it was, Sheriff’s investigators say, one huge lie.
“Cancer had my body for 6 years,” was written on the cardboard testimony held by Sonja Luker of Molino during a special service at Highland Baptist last November. “But God had my (heart) and gave me my miracle.”
“She never had cancer,” Deputy Chris Welborn, spokesperson for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, said.
Her church cardboard testimony was not the first time Luker claimed a divine miracle. She claimed in a 2009 NorthEscambia.com interview to have been diagnosed with cancer when her son was a senior in high school — five year prior to the interview.
“All I did was pray for God to let me see my children graduate,” she said. “I got my miracle.”
Luker said she had been told to prepare for the end because chemotherapy and radiation were unable to destroy all of the cancer cells attacking her body. She said she began to wonder how she will tell her children that she would not live long enough to see them marry, how she would tell her parents that she would probably die before them.
Her claims to battle cancer whole volunteering with the Molino Ballpark, the Molino Christmas Parade, Relay for Life and even Special Olympics led to NorthEscambia.com naming her one of the North Escambia Persons of the Year for 2009.
But all of her claims made in interviews with NorthEscambia.com and The Atmore Advance were lies, according to investigators. Stories from both news organizations are among the more than four dozen pieces of evidence that the Sheriff’s Office says prove Sonja Luker’s lies about cancer.
The news has hit the communities in the North Escambia area hard, including the congregation at her church, Highland Baptist, where church leaders and members would often pray for Luker and encourage people to attend her fundraisers.
“We are deeply troubled by the recent events surrounding Chris and Sonja Luker,” Highland Pastor Brian Calhoun said. “As members of our church, we have tried to love, care, pray for and minister to them in the love of Jesus.”
“In the end, the truth is what anyone would desire. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lukers,” Calhoun stated, citing a Bible verse. “In John 8:32, Jesus said, ‘And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’.”
Area Mayors To Discuss Economic Development
April 8, 2011
The mayors of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will come together today to take part in the second “Escambia-Santa Rosa County Mayors Panel” discussion.
From the North Escambia area, Mayors Freddie McCall of Century and Mayor Kurvin Qualls of Jay will join Milton Mayor Guy Thompson, Mayor Beverly Zimmern of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola City Council President Maren DeWeese to discuss regional economic development.
Pensacola Chamber of Commerce CEO Jim Hizer will also address the group.
The event is sponsored by the Pensacola Bay Area Women’s Council of Realtors.
Fake Cancer Story Spells End To Charity; Final Funds Benefit Century Council Member
April 8, 2011
Hundreds of people took part in a 2009 fundraiser at the Alabama Wing House in Atmore to benefit Sonja Luker, a woman they all believed had cancer.
Dozens of motorcyclists took part in a 75-mile Labor Day ride, while children swarmed the parking lot to spend money to play games and help the cause for a woman that claimed to have recently gone into remission from her cancer.
Many wore red t-shirts, emblazoned with words “I helped Sonja Kick Cancer” on the front and “It has been a long hard journey and knowing that could be over is overwhelming. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Love Sonja.”
In the end, the event raised over $9,000 — money that was never spent on cancer treatment but went toward mortgage payments and to purchase a Harley motorcycle, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
Ronnie and Jessica Cloud, owners of the Alabama Wing House, were amazed at the support local communities were willing to give to help someone in need. Jessica Cloud, who at the time considered herself one of Luker’s best friends, stepped up to form the nonprofit Kickin’ Cancer group.
“The outpouring from the community was unbelievable,” Cloud said. Another fundraiser was planned for an Atmore Park in October 2010. But that money, Cloud said, did not go to Sonja Luker. About $2,600 in proceeds were donated to Nadine McCaw, a Century town council member that continues to battle verifiable cancer.
The Clouds learned of McCaw’s fight against cancer from an article on NorthEscambia.com and took the opportunity “to help someone else in this community”.
The Clouds and Kickin’ Cancer are in no way suspected of any wrongdoing, according to Sheriff’s investigators. But no one else will ever benefit from the Kickin’ Cancer Foundation, Cloud said, because of the negative associations with Sonja Luker. The nonprofit will be dissolved.
“We have learned a life lesson, sadly,” Cloud said. “I don’t have any hurt or anger anymore. But we would like to see them (Chris and Sonja Luker) held accountable for their actions.”
Pictured top: Christ and Sonja Luker at a 2009 Alabama Wing House fundraiser for her alleged cancer treatments. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
South Florida Senator Calls For Northwest Florida Prisons To Be Privatized
April 8, 2011
A Florida senator filed an a legislative amendment this week calling for the privatization of the six state prisons in Northwest Florida, including Century Correctional Institution.
Senator Mike Fasano, declined to explain why he had targeted Century CI and the other prisons in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes and Washington counties. But the amendment stated that prisons in Northwest Florida should be privatized “in lieu of privatization of South Florida prison operations”.
With the amendment to the Senate’s General Appropriations Bill, Fasano claimed the state could save $27 million of the states $390 million correctional budget with the move.
Sen. Greg Evers, whose district includes all of the targeted prisons, quickly spoke out in opposition to the amendment. Evers filed his own amendment to replace Fasano’s amendment and, instead, privatize prisons in South Florida.
Fasano is withdrawing his amendment, with Evers to follow suit.
New Process Reduces Escambia Required Residential Building Inspections From 22 To Just 8
April 8, 2011
The Escambia County Commission voted Thursday to make changes to the Building Inspection Division that could reduce the number of residential building inspection trips from 22 to eight per job by using multiple-licensed inspectors.
The changes will allow individual, single trade, state-licensed inspectors to attain multiple building inspection licenses. Having staff members with multiple licenses will mean plans can be reviewed quicker and fewer trips to construction sites to perform inspections will be necessary, according to county officials, saving valuable staff time, fuel costs, plan review delays, streamline inspection scheduling and lower overall operation costs.
Many jurisdictions use the multiple-licensed inspectors approach in staffing their Building Inspections Departments as a means to ease budget constraints, Sonya Daniel, county spokesperson, said. A multiple-licensed individual is allowed to inspect and/or conduct the required plan reviews of any category for which they possess a state license. It is anticipated to take up to 18 months for all staff to receive the multiple licenses.
Florida Statute 468 requires individuals to be licensed with the Department of Building and Professional Regulation in order to conduct the required construction inspections of work performed, and to approve construction plans for permitting purposes, in the fields of building, mechanical, electrical or plumbing construction. They receive this license by successfully passing both the Florida Principles and Practices Exam and the specific trade examination they have applied for.
Compromise Offered On Florida Fertilizer Bill
April 8, 2011
Following several weeks of discussion surrounding a statewide fertilizer rule, lawmakers on Thursday reached a common ground with a new amendment offering both retail-friendly guidelines and a locally-controlled rulemaking process. Filed by Rep. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg), the amendment to HB 457, sponsored by Rep. Clay Ingram (R-Pensacola) and Rep. Bryan Nelson (R-Apopka), would protect statewide commerce and keep intact all pre-existing local fertilizer rules. Additionally, other municipalities can continue adopting additional regulations under the condition they properly report their rules to state.
“At the foundation of this bill is the critical need to provide Florida with the best tools possible to protect water quality and the economy, while ensuring the best available science is involved in every step of the process to vet those tools and regulations,” said Rep. Ingram. “The state model ordinance certainly can stand on its own as a strong and effective statewide rule, but this new amendment provides municipalities with the state oversight needed to craft local fertilizer rules. I’ve had an open mind and an open door policy when speaking to all stakeholders. I believe this a sound compromise which makes the bill stronger and offers a new level of accountability that is lacking in current fertilizer laws.”
Cities and counties who choose to follow the current state model ordinance would be protected by homeowner fertilizer use guidelines which were crafted by the legislature-appointed Urban Fertilizer Use Task Force in 2007. This includes prohibiting the application of fertilizer before a heavy rain, maintaining a ten-foot buffer zone between a fertilized-area and any water bodies and deflector shield requirements.
“We heard the concerns of local governments loud and clear. This amendment upholds localities’ right to build their own rules, as stated in current Florida statutes, as long as they are properly researched and fact-checked with the state,” said Rep. Brandes. “The amended HB 457 now stands to encourage all Florida cities and counties to look to the model ordinance as a guide for their local regulations while also ensuring a local option is in place if additional fertilizer rules are needed. This legislation was never a vessel for deregulation, but was meant to serve as a remedy to minimize the confusion surrounding patchwork fertilizer sales regulations. As it was presented today, this legislation addresses the concerns of all stakeholders and is a step forward for Florida’s water quality initiatives.”
Final Florida Budgets Approved; Budget Negotiations And Scott Showdown Set
April 8, 2011
Lawmakers voted Thursday to approve budgets slicing education and health care, asking state employees to foot some of the bill for their own retirement and largely staying true to the GOP majority’s promise to avoid tax increases — setting up budget negotiations and a potential showdown with new Gov. Rick Scott.
In the House, members voted for the spending plan along party lines, 78-39. The Senate margin was slightly more bipartisan, with almost half of the Democratic members present joining with Republicans on the 33-6 vote.
There are significant gaps to reconcile. On one key measure — a plan to ask state employees to contribute to their own employment — the House would require workers to kick in 3 percent of their income regardless of their earnings; the Senate plan would set different charges on different levels of income, ranging from 2 percent on the first $25,000 of pay to 6 percent on any pay above $50,000.
Other differences between the two chambers include the House’s plan to sweep $330 million from the State Transportation Trust Fund — a seemingly annual battle with the Senate — and an overall difference of more than $3 billion between the $66.5 billion House blueprint and the Senate’s $69.8 billion measure.
The Senate would also boost the cost of health insurance for some state employees, a proposal that Cannon voice caution about Thursday evening.
“Since I think both the House and Senate plan are fairly aggressive in changing the FRS and the pension side, we have to be very sensitive in what we do with health insurance,” he said.
Both Cannon and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, said they expected to agree on budget allocations in time for conference committees to begin meeting late next week.
The negotiations could also prove to be a test of the relationship between Scott and the Republican Legislature. Scott declined to say this week whether he would veto a spending plan that doesn’t include his tax cuts.
“I try not to think about hypotheticals,” Scott said earlier this week. “I’m very comfortable that we’ll get it in there.”
But, aside from a Senate measure reducing the property tax rates charged by water management districts, few of Scott’s proposed reductions are in either chamber’s budget, dramatically reducing the chances that they will be included in the final spending blueprint.
But after Thursday’s session, Cannon wouldn’t take the option of tax cuts off the table.
“I think it’s extremely difficult, but I wouldn’t rule it in, I wouldn’t rule it out,” he said.
The arguments Thursday followed the well-worn lines of the budget debates over the last few years, as slouching state revenues have forced lawmakers to approve tax increases or reduce spending. Democrats slammed the budget for not including new revenues raised by hiking taxes or eliminating exemptions.
“We have not found the middle ground,” said Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston. “We didn’t have to make these decisions. We could have made other decisions. We decided to cause unnecessary pain on a lot of vulnerable people in this state.”
But increased taxes, Republicans countered, would be precisely the wrong prescription as the state tries to recover from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, said there was a good reason the state wasn’t getting additional tax dollars from businesses or residents.
“They don’t have it!” he proclaimed at one point during the House debate. “ . . . The last thing we need to do is to ask them for more, more than they can do. And they’re asking us, ‘Do the best you can with what you have.’”
Democrats also continued to attack the pension changes, with the House minority going so far as asking for the measure to be considered an income tax increase.
“A vote on this bill will always be remember by some, if not many, as a vote on the first income tax in our state’s history,” said Minority Leader Ron Saunders, D-Key West.
Republicans responded that the cuts were necessary, and that state employees were simply being asked to do what has become commonplace in other states and the private sector.
“We’re not balancing the budget on the backs of anyone,” said Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland. “We’re balancing the budget.”
By Brandon Larrabee
By The News Service of Florida
3,000 Apply For New Century Jobs; Company Makes Positive Announcement
April 8, 2011
There was some positive economic news in Century Thursday as the CEO of Century Lumber and Land announced that his company is continuing to move forward toward bringing hundreds of jobs to town.
“Thank you for hanging in with us at Century Lumber and Land,” CEO Jim Craft told a meeting of the Century Chamber of Commerce.
“We now own the property,” Craft said of the old Alger-Sullivan Lumber complex that has sat idle for a number of years. “We are going to be moving pretty quick now that we have the ownership.”
Over 3,000 people have already applied for one of just a few hundred jobs expected to be available initially at Century Lumber and Land, according to Catharine Jeter of Workforce Escarosa.
“These are some really good people that have applied,” Jeter said. “They are not flunkies.”
Century Lumber and Land unofficially announced a venture with several other companies September 2, 2010, that Craft said would eventually employee 300 to 500 people within a 36 to 42 month period. A ribbon was cut for the companies in October — before the company actually owned the Alger-Sullivan property.
Century Lumber and Land, LLC plans to join Railmark Holdings and Milton Timber in a total of five ventures slated for Century. The companies will say they will, over the course of time, be in the business of:
- treating railroad crossties
- dry kiln treating domestic lumber for the building industry
- building and selling lumber kilns
- repairing freight railcars, railroad track and maintenance
- processing and marketing Paulownia trees as biomass fuel and wood products
Pictured top: The October 22, 2010, ribbon cutting for Century Lumber and Land. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.