Feds Investigate Busted Broward Pol's Charity
Looking into finances of Eggelletion's non-profit
Broward.org, NBCMiami.com
Beverly Gallagher, Fitzroy Salesman and Josephus Eggelletion: busted.
Less than a week after he was busted on accusations of corruption, suspended Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion's high profile charity that helps underprivileged youth learn the game of golf is being investigated by the FBI.
Two members of the Golf Oriented Leadership Foundation (GOLF) met with FBI agents last week as the Feds look into the finances of the nonprofit charity, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
According to GOLF tax returns, over a half-dozen checks worth over $10,000 were written to Eggelletion between 1999 and 2003 from the charity's account. And there was a large jump in revenue between 2005 and 2006, with the charity's revenues jumping from $20,699 to $72,919 in one year.
One of the GOLF board members interviewed by the FBI said he couldn't explain why the organization did so well in '06.
"I wasn't really paying attention to what the revenues were doing," board member Dwight Reynolds told the Sun-Sentinel.
According to Eggelletion's online profile, GOLF is "dedicated to enriching the lives of minority, disadvantaged children by involving them in the sport of golf." The organization provides golf equipment and lessons for minority junior golfers, with about 67 minority children currently involved in the program.
The news comes less than a week after Eggelletion, School Board member Beverly Gallagher and Miramar Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman were arrested on corruption charges for allegedly accepting bribes from undercover FBI agents.
As of yesterday, Gov. Charlie Crist, who suspended Eggelletion and Gallagher immediately following the arrests, had already received six applications from people who want to take over the two spots.
The field to replace Eggelletion include Republican Art Kennedy and Democrats Allen Jackson and Tim Smith, according to the Miami Herald.
Kennedy is chief of staff to a Democratic congressman, U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar. Smith is a former Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner and Jackson is senior pastor at the Living Word Community Church in Lauderhill.
Carmen Zaldivar, Patricia Good and Joel Smith have applied to replace Gallagher. Zaldivaris a parent activist from Miramar, Good an administrator for the Miami-Dade school system, and Smith a former director with the Broward school district.
Crist has to appoint someone to the positions until the charges are resolved or the two resign from office.
Posted Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 7:16 AM EST
