Florida Keys tourism PR head facing 28 criminal charges in wake of audit

KEY WEST, Fla. – A man whose public relations firm was contracted to help promote the Florida Keys to visitors from around the world is now facing more than two dozen criminal charges over allegations that he made false statements about payments to a non-existent company.

The case against Andy Newman comes months after an audit of the Key West-based, taxpayer-funded Monroe County Tourist Development Council, which contracted Newman through his company, NewmanPR, revealed what officials described as “serious ethical concerns” and possible law-breaking within the agency.

The county audit stated that NewmanPR was reimbursed nearly $30,000 for invoices during the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years for a company called Graphics 71, which Newman controlled. The audit found that those payments possibly represented double-billing for services that NewmanPR had already been paid to perform.

Authorities allege that Graphics 71 didn’t exist.

“The investigation, which involved information obtained through subpoenas, an audit report from the Clerk of Court, and our own independent in-depth forensic audit uncovered a series of false declarations made by Newman concerning payments allegedly issued by Stuart Newman Enterprises to a fictitious company, Graphics 71,” the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office said in a social media post Tuesday.

The SAO’s office said Newman, 68, of Islamorada, faces 14 counts of perjury when not in an official proceeding, a first-degree misdemeanor.

“These allegations assert that Newman knowingly provided false statements under oath about payments to the nonexistent entity, Graphics 71,” the SAO social media post reads.

He’s also accused of 14 counts of making false official statements, a second-degree misdemeanor.

“These charges allege that Newman submitted false written certifications to the Clerk of Court’s office, falsely claiming that payments were made to Graphics 71 to mislead public officials,” officials said.

State Attorney Dennis Ward said in a statement that his office’s investigation “underscores the seriousness” of the case.

“Integrity and honesty are cornerstones of public service, and we are committed to prosecuting those who engage in deceitful practices that undermine public trust,” Ward said.

Newman, whose full name is Andrew Alan Newman, was booked into the Monroe County jail just before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, online records show. A bond had not yet been listed as of around 11:45 a.m.

In an email, Newman told Local 10 News that he was unable to comment on the matter on the advice of his legal counsel.