FBI corruption probe nets three politicians
FORT LAUDERDALE (AP) – Three prominent politicians in Florida’s second-most populous county were arrested Wednesday on federal corruption charges, accused of accepting thousands of dollars in cash from undercover FBI agents posing as businessmen seeking illegal favors.
“Hopefully the message will get sent that if this is what you go into public service for, eventually you’ll get caught,” said acting U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sloman at a news conference. “It just stuns me every time this happens.”
Broward County Commissioner and Vice Mayor Josephus Eggelletion, 60, was charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to help launder more than $900,000 through a Bahamas bank account from what the undercover FBI agents told him was an investment fraud scheme. For his efforts, he was paid more than $23,000.
A county school board member, 51-year-old Beverly Gallagher, is accused of accepting $12,500 – some stuffed in official board of education envelopes – to help steer school business toward FBI agents posing as representatives of glass and construction companies.
The third political figure charged, former Miramar city commissioner Fitzroy Salesman, 52, is accused of taking $3,340 from undercover agents pretending to seek contracts to replace a gymnasium floor and build a park gazebo. Earlier this year, Salesman was convicted of a misdemeanor charge after drawing a pistol in a grocery store during an argument with another shopper.
Corruption charges against the three include money laundering, wire fraud, extortion and bribery in programs that receive federal funds. Sloman said they each face between 10 and 20 years in prison. He added that more arrests are possible.
Gov. Charlie Crist issued executive orders suspending Eggelletion – who just hours before his arrest voted on the county’s annual budget in a late-night meeting – and Gallagher from office pending the outcome of the case. Salesman lost his bid for re-election after his weapons trial.
The three politicians, handcuffed and wearing leg chains, appeared briefly before a federal judge Wednesday afternoon. They were ordered released on bail and will return next month for a hearing on whether they have hired permanent lawyers.
Attorneys for Eggelletion and Gallagher declined comment outside the courtroom. Eric Schwartzreich, who represents Salesman, said he had not yet begun to plan a defense.
“I want to see all the facts. Right now, we just got him out on bond,” Schwartzreich said.