Big Storm Brewing owner defies court orders, faces sanctions

Leo Govoni, a businessman from Clearwater, has defied court orders related to his control of several companies, including Big Storm Brewing. He is accused of stealing $100 million from medical trust funds meant for disabled and injured individuals. On Monday, Govoni refused to let bankruptcy officers into his office, even after a federal court had ordered him to hand over control of his businesses due to concerns about his financial activities. The court-appointed officers were given authority to manage all finances and change locks if necessary. Bankruptcy trustee Michael Goldberg has filed a motion for the court to take action against Govoni. He is asking Judge Roberta Colton to allow the officers to force their way into the office and to require Govoni to explain his noncompliance in court. A hearing on this matter is set for Tuesday afternoon. Govoni is under investigation by the FBI, the Securities Exchange Commission, and the IRS. He allegedly orchestrated a $100 million loan from a St. Petersburg nonprofit to his own company. This loan has not been repaid. A judge ruled in January that Govoni is liable for this loan, plus interest. Despite court restrictions, Govoni has continued to run his businesses, including the taproom of Big Storm Brewing, which remained open last week. In his motion, Goldberg expressed concern that Govoni may continue to exploit vulnerable individuals until the court intervenes. Govoni has previously denied the allegations through his former attorney but has not been charged with any crimes. The situation has left many families, who relied on the medical trusts for essential expenses, facing financial difficulties. Goldberg informed trust fund holders that recovering the missing money may be unlikely, leaving some families without the resources to cover necessary medical costs.