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tiffjenam
09-28-2016, 12:52 PM
Hi! We are from an elementary school in Florida. We were in the process of building a hydroponic garden on campus--until, we passed grant money on to the wrong person. He was previously mentioned on this site, Chuck Frogner from Mighty Fine Gardens. We haven't heard from him nor are we able to get a return phone call/email since we paid him in May. We are hoping someone out there may have contact. Additionally, anyone who has experience with hydroponic gardens, which "soil" is best to grow fruits/vegetables? We've gotten conflicting information. Thanks for sharing, we look forward to learning from all of you!

Paulzie32
09-28-2016, 06:25 PM
Don't know anything about Hydroponics but I do hope you file a lawsuit against that guy! That's just wrong!

Darkman
09-28-2016, 10:56 PM
It is also probably criminal but your local jurisdiction law enforcement will have to make that decision. What county are you in?

Island Brah
09-29-2016, 08:13 AM
Hi! We are from an elementary school in Florida. We were in the process of building a hydroponic garden on campus--until, we passed grant money on to the wrong person. He was previously mentioned on this site, Chuck Frogner from Mighty Fine Gardens. We haven't heard from him nor are we able to get a return phone call/email since we paid him in May. We are hoping someone out there may have contact. Additionally, anyone who has experience with hydroponic gardens, which "soil" is best to grow fruits/vegetables? We've gotten conflicting information. Thanks for sharing, we look forward to learning from all of you!

What a crook!

What method of payment did you use?

Try emailing him from another email address acting like a brand new customer trying to buy things from him to see if he replies. Try calling from a number with a different area code than yours. I would call local law enforcement in his town and tell them what happened. Maybe they can pay him a visit.

Breaks my heart that this was for an elementary school and he scammed you

cincinnana
09-29-2016, 08:23 AM
Hi! We are from an elementary school in Florida. We were in the process of building a hydroponic garden on campus--until, we passed grant money on to the wrong person. He was previously mentioned on this site, Chuck Frogner from Mighty Fine Gardens. We haven't heard from him nor are we able to get a return phone call/email since we paid him in May. We are hoping someone out there may have contact. Additionally, anyone who has experience with hydroponic gardens, which "soil" is best to grow fruits/vegetables? We've gotten conflicting information. Thanks for sharing, we look forward to learning from all of you!

West Palm /Delray beach area??

Darkman
09-29-2016, 11:23 AM
Most agencies in Florida that service populations of any size have minimum loss requirements before they will investigate. Where you live there is a significant population and they probably do have minimums however the nature of this crime, taking advantage of children, is very disturbing to most of the population and as such may get some action especially if the report is filed by the principal or directly by the school board. I would encourage you to file the report and continually follow up with the investigator to show that yall are serious about seeking justice. Do not try to work or investigate the case on your own. Leave it to the authorities to do that! I live at the other end of the state or I would assist you.

tiffjenam
09-29-2016, 11:26 AM
Yes!

campngolf
09-29-2016, 11:48 PM
It might also be worth talking to your local TV stations to see if they would look into this. Bad enough that any customer was cheated, but particularly cruel when kids are involved.

campngolf
09-30-2016, 12:07 AM
He also has several social media accounts ( Facebook, LinkedIn, etc) that may be a way to contact him if you haven't tried those yet.

Another thought... have you contacted the folks who gave you the grant? They might have some resources to track him down. They probably wouldn't be happy to find our the money they gave to some school kids didn't go to the project it was intended to.

Good luck.

Paulzie32
09-30-2016, 06:12 AM
It might also be worth talking to your local TV stations to see if they would look into this. Bad enough that any customer was cheated, but particularly cruel when kids are involved.

Absolutely! They may have a "Shame On You" section where a reporter goes after these types of people and confronts them in Camera!
I'd do that! This is exactly the type of story they love to do and it's Perfect for shaming someone!

Darkman
09-30-2016, 08:37 AM
IF IT MEETS CRIMINAL GUIDELINES

you can compromise the investigators options by trying to fix it yourselves. After the criminality has been determined and criminal prosecution efforts exhausted then you might want to explore other options.

IMHO

Kat2
09-30-2016, 09:00 AM
Glad to see the DM back!

It's fun to imagine finding the miscreant and exacting vigilante justice but doing so will likely result in hoisting by your own petard. DM works in the system and knows how it works; follow his counsel.

beam2050
10-03-2016, 11:54 AM
don't know about legal things much. but my parents worked over 60 years in the school system, combined. so has your program started? will donations help? I live in florida, your location would help. got a few plants not many gran nains and dwarf cavendish, and bananas grow fast, great fun to watch them grow. I have some seeds also, hard to germinate, but snow bananas when they do watch out, in less than a month from germination 11 inches.