FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Prosecutors have dropped the charges against a gym owner who refused to comply with the mask mandate during the pandemic.
Michael Carnevale along with his wife, Jillian Carnevale, were arrested three times for refusing to adhere to COVID restrictions at the beginning of the pandemic.
The couple walked toward a group of supporters Tuesday morning, just moments after the state attorney’s office dropped the charges.
“Pursuant to Gov. DeSantis’ executive order, the state attorney’s office is announcing an all pros,” said state attorney Margaret Carpenter.
Just last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told the couple on live TV that they would not face any charges.
“When our clemency board meets in a couple of weeks we’ll issue pardons,” DeSantis said.
The couple was arrested at their gym Fitness 1440 in Plantation last summer.
Plantation Police said they refused to enforce a county order requiring masks to be worn inside gyms, and they were accused of allowing clients to ignore the order.
“We all have the right to get sick if we want to get sick,” Jillian said at the time.
When 7News asked Mike if it would be easier to follow the same rules other gyms were following until the pandemic was over, he replied, “Appreciate the question. Thank you so much, guys.”
The CDC now says vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks.
When Mike was asked about the new mask guidelines, he was less appreciative.
“So, medical advice comes from medical professionals, which you have told me you are not,” he said.
Fitness 1440 has since closed.
“Our business was seized by corrupt judges in Broward County,” Mike said. “We will not be getting our business back.”
But the property manager told 7News back in October, “Fitness 1440 hasn’t paid rent consistently for over a year, and the court ruled Fitness 1440 could no longer occupy a space it wasn’t paying rent for.”
With his legal troubles behind him, Mike said he hopes to reopen at a new location, and looking back, he said he wouldn’t change a thing.
“Some really amazing lessons learned; I don’t regret it at all,” Mike said. “If I could do it all over again, I would.”
The Broward County state attorney wrote a letter to the governor saying there are roughly 150 citations and arrests related to the COVID-19 mandates. None of them will be prosecuted.
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