A Florida mother is speaking out after discovering that her disabled daughter’s $250,000 special needs trust fund has vanished—one of many alleged victims in a financial scandal involving missing millions.
Ashley McDowell, the mother of 7-year-old Mia, settled a federal medical malpractice lawsuit two years ago after her daughter suffered severe brain damage from a cardiac arrest caused by an allergic reaction.
Half of the settlement was placed in a trust managed by the Directed Benefits Foundation, a nonprofit organization run by Leo Gavani.
Initially, McDowell believed the money was secure.
“I thought everything was fine,” she told WFLA News Channel 8. But her concerns grew when she stopped getting answers about the trust’s status.
The Florida Attorney General’s Office has since filed a lawsuit accusing Gavani and his associates of stealing $142 million from victims who relied on the nonprofit to manage their disability trusts.
The foundation, also known as the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration, is under FBI investigation, though no criminal charges have been filed against Gavani.
“I sat down with him. I had dinner with this person. I truly trusted him,” McDowell said, holding back tears. “That’s how so many of us got victimized—we never saw it coming.”
Now, with no access to the funds meant to secure Mia’s future, McDowell is facing devastating choices.
“I might have to put her in a group home if I don’t have it because I’ve got to be able to work,” she said.
Authorities say they are committed to protecting vulnerable victims and holding those responsible accountable. However, for families like the McDowells, the loss is already life-changing.
