Why did the University of Florida tolerant this and kind of keep protecting that professor?

Same reason the conference allowed the professor to present the paper even though the first author committed suicide over it and left a suicide letter which blamed the misconduct and the professor —- nobody in academia gives a shit. Don’t mistake the penalty for integrity. These are the same guys that abuse vulnerable students to fuel their ego-trip (which they call careers).

PhDComics needs a special dystopian subsidiary just for these sort of departments. Like a Charlie Hebdo.

Because his papers get them tons of grant money.