Former Miami Beach clinic head surrenders to FBI

Kathryn Abbate, former head of the Miami Beach Community Health Center, surrendered to the FBI on Wednesday, charged with defrauding federal healthcare agencies.

She is scheduled to make her first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Abbate was fired last year after the center’s board alleged that she had diverted $6.8 million in funds to her personal use -- money that were intended to provide care for the poor who used the clinic, which is a federally qualified health center, entitling it to special state-federal Medicaid funds.

The formal charges accuse Abbate of taking more than $10,000 between 2008 and 2012, according to a federal court document. . She is charged by information, a sign she is cooperating with prosecutors and FBI agents. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.

The center employs about 300 people and gets about $4 million annually from the federal government.

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Lena Dunham Defends Patrick Wilson Girls Episode

Lena Dunham is getting a lot of backlash after Sunday night's episode of Girls, titled Another Man's Trash, featured her character Hannah Horvath in the throes of passion with big-screen heartthrob Patrick Wilson, a.k.a. Dr. Joshua. Many critics are calling the episode a "fantastical, implausible story," but these writers may be surprised that Dunham sort of agrees with them.

The episode begins with Hannah dressed in a skimpy jumper showing up at the handsome, 40-something Joshua's (not Josh) brownstone in Brooklyn where the two begin a whirlwind, highly sexual romance that ends after two nights and involves a nude Ping-Pong scene. "I kind of wrote episode five in a fever dream," Dunham, 26, says of the now-controversial scenario in a HBO Inside the Episode piece. "Hannah got lost in a version of what could be her life."

The Golden Globe winner continues, "I like the idea that in her fantasy life she might be loved by sort of a stable, attractive older man with a great Brooklyn house."

RELATED: Lena Calls Howard Stern Out on His 'Fat Chicks' Comment

Critics from Esquire, Slate and Entertainment Weekly tore this episode apart, with even the feminist blog Jezebel writing: "Basically, nobody thought that it was remotely plausible that a successful doctor who looked like Patrick Wilson would be into a girl who looked like Lena Dunham."

Meanwhile, Slate's Daniel Engber said of the episode: "Narcissistic, childish men sleep with beautiful women all the time in movies and on TV, so why should this coupling be so difficult to fathom? I think it's because Hannah is especially and assertively ugly in this episode."

What do you think? Is this Girls romance between Dunham and Wilson so "implausible"?

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John Thomas Financial CEO Belesis facing disciplinary action

Tommy Belesis, the founder of Wall Street brokerage firm John Thomas Financial, is facing disciplinary action from the industry’s watchdog.

Belesis disclosed today that he has received a so-called Wells Notice from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the brokerage industry’s self-regulatory body.

The notice, which was sent to Belesis on Jan. 10, is a warning that Finra’s staff has initiated disciplinary proceedings against him for alleged industry violations, including selling shares held by brokerage before executing client orders.

According to his updated Finra records, Belesis — known for a cameo in Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” — is also accused of making “material misrepresentations” to customers about his failure sell their stock as requested. Finra said he “falsified or failed to preserve” records of the order requests.

Angel Chevrestt

Tommy Belesis

Belesis, who has admitted to a checkered past of stealing cars and using drugs, was also accused of “using manipulative, deceptive and/or fraudulent means to artificially inflate the price of the stock,” according to the notice.

Belesis, who was presented the Bronx GOP “Man of the Year Award” by Rudy Giuliani in 2009, didn’t immediately return a request for comment, but Wednesday’s notice on his brokerage record said he “intends to contest and defend these allegations vigorously.”

Belesis and his firm are also being probed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and FBI agents in New York. The Post exclusively reported on the investigations last week.

Sources told The Post that the Finra investigation centers on America West Resources Inc., a tiny Salt Lake City, Utah-based coal company that JTF helped raise money for in 2011.

At issue is Belesis and JTF’s sale of a stake in America West during a one-day run up in the stock last February, according to several people familiar with the investigation.

The shares hit $1.29 on Feb. 23 before plummeting to 65 cents the following day. The shares now trade below 20 cents.

kwhitehouse@nypost.com

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Former Miami Beach clinic head surrenders to FBI

Kathryn Abbate, former head of the Miami Beach Community Health Center, surrendered to the FBI on Wednesday, charged with defrauding federal healthcare agencies.

She is scheduled to make her first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Abbate was fired last year after the center’s board alleged that she had diverted $6.8 million in funds to her personal use -- money that were intended to provide care for the poor who used the clinic, which is a federally qualified health center, entitling it to special state-federal Medicaid funds.

The formal charges accuse Abbate of taking more than $10,000 between 2008 and 2012, according to a federal court document. . She is charged by information, a sign she is cooperating with prosecutors and FBI agents. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.

The center employs about 300 people and gets about $4 million annually from the federal government.

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Chinese New Year rings in at St. Thomas University

A Chinese Lunar New Year celebration was held at St. Thomas University on Sunday, Feb. 10, in Miami Gardens. The free event was open to the public and also featured an ancestral-veneration ceremony, lion dances and a reception.

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Faith Hill Becomes a Brace Face

Faith Hill has been rocking a new accessory that garnered lots of attention when she hit the Grammy Awards red carpet on Sunday. The country crooner stepped out wearing clear braces, which led us to ask: What was wrong with her teeth in the first place?

Never mentioning that she's been wearing veneers for decades, Hill, 45, explained the mouth metal to radio station KNIX at the Country Music Awards, saying, "I had braces as a kid. I forgot to wear my retainer."

She added jokingly, "Kids, wear your retainer!"

RELATED PICS: What supermodel also had dental work?

Hill and her husband Tim McGraw, 45, were both presenters at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night. Hill paired her brace face with a stunning black J. Mendel gown.

What do you think of Hill's braces? Does she need them?

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Career thief accused of burglarizing Anne Frank Center claims he wanted to look at exhibits

Burglar? Try Holocaust aficionado.

A career thief charged with burglarizing the Anne Frank Center last winter is insisting to a Manhattan jury that he had just gone inside because he wanted to look at the exhibits.

Michael James, 53 -- who has 30 theft and drug sale arrests on his rap -- is accused of swiping the executive director's wallet after sneaking into her office, located behind a full-scale display of Frank's bedroom in the Park Place center. He is linked to the burglary by fingerprint and video evidence.

"I knew he didn't want to learn more about Anne Frank, because I saw he was running away!" victim Yvonne Simons told The Post after testifying yesterday.

Umar Abbasi

Michael James.

"Here I am, the head of a tolerance organization, and it's awkward -- because this cannot be tolerated," the Dutch-born Simons said.

James, who has done three prison stints for burglary, robbery and possessing stolen goods, is charged with burglary for going through the unlocked front doors and into Simons' office fifteen minutes before the center opened -- and grand larceny for allegedly using her credit cards.

Additional reporting by Jamie Schram

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U.S. Century to OK details of new deal

U.S. Century Bank is expected to sign off on Monday on its letter of intent — the framework for a plan to recapitalize the bank.

Under the deal, a local group of investors, led by Jimmy Tate of Tate Capital and Sergio Rok of Rok Enterprises, will bring in fresh capital and wipe out the Doral bank’s bad loans, while allowing it to operate independently.

The investor group is expected to inject $50 million in capital into the bank, becoming majority owners. In addition, the group will pay about $90 million to buy certain loans, including all $98 million of U.S. Century’s non-performing loans, said U.S. Century President and Chief Executive Carlos J. Dávila. The deal would also provide for a negotiated amount to be paid to the federal government to repay U.S. Century’s $50.2 million in TARP funds.

A definitive agreement, based on the letter of intent, is expected next month. Pending shareholder and regulatory approval, the deal could be completed by mid-year, Dávila said.

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Carnival ship fire quickly extinguished as ship wallows in Gulf awaiting tug

The Carnival Triumph, a Galveston, Texas-based passenger cruise ship with the theme “Great Cities Around the World,” might have been better off sitting at port, as a court initially ordered.

As of Monday morning the 14-year old ship was going nowhere, operating on emergency generator power after a fire Sunday in one of the diesel generators killed its propulsion. The fire was quickly put out by an automatic fire extinguishing system, and none of the 4,229 passengers or crew are said to be in any danger

All were waiting patiently as a giant tug boat trudged toward the Triumph, now operating under generator power, with the intention of hauling the 100,000 ton, 893-foot vessel to the nearest port in Progreso, Mexico. It is expected in port some time Wednesday afternoon. Carnival Cruise Lines headquarters are in Miami-Dade.

“The cause of the fire is still to be determined,” said Carnival spokesman Vance Guliksen. In a brief news release, Guliksen said “there were no casualties to guests or crew.”

He said all passengers will be flown back to the United States and will be fully refunded.. Carnival said it will cover any additional transportation expenses. Passengers will also receive a free future cruise.

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday another Carnival ship, the Carnival Elation, was on the scene transferring food and beverages.

According to Carnival, some basic auxiliary power has been restored, cabin toilets are working on part of the ship and some elevators are operational. The dining areas are serving hot coffee and limited hot food.

The $420 million Triumph made news early last year after the family of a German tourist killed in the Costa Concordia disaster in the Mediterranean filed a $10 million lawsuit against Carnival. A judge found the family had standing, and ordered the ship held at port in Galveston. The court later allowed the ship to move between ports until a hearing takes place.

The lawsuit contends that Carnival Cruise Lines is the corporate parent of the Costa Concordia.

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Kerry Washington Channing Tatum Independent Spirit Awards Presenters Exclusive

Given their host (Joel McHale, Rainn Wilson, Seth Rogen, John Waters, Andy Samberg) and nominee track record, The Film Independent Spirit Awards have long been one of my favorite award shows -- and don't even get me started on the sublime singing!

RELATED - Who's Presenting at The Oscars

This year's ceremony is set to be their most star-studded to date. Not only are Jennifer Lawrence, Matthew McConaughey, Bruce Willis nominated, but ETonline can exclusively reveal that Kerry Washington, Channing Tatum, Kyle MacLachlan and Zachary Booth will be presenters on the big night!

McConaughey earned one of his two 2013 nominations for Tatum's movie, Magic Mike, while Booth's insanely good indie, Keep The Lights On, scored nods for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Male Lead.

RELATED - 2013 Spirit Award Nominations

MacLachlan has been a Spirit Awards staple since Blue Velvet dominated the 1987 ceremony and Washington was nominated for Best Female Lead for 2002's Lift.

The 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards air February 23 at 10 p.m. on IFC.

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