Disgraced Broward Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion has some advice for other South Florida politicians: fly right, or don't fly at all.
The suspended pol issued a statement yesterday as he faces a federal corruption charge which he appears to be ready to plead guilty to, according to the Miami Herald.
"I ask the community and all public servants to learn from my misconduct, and to hew to the right and honorable path," Eggelletion's statement read.
It's been a swift downfall for Eggelletion, a former teacher who's spent the past 20 years in South Florida politics.
After his arrest in September, Eggelletion, 60, pled not guilty to a money laundering charge last month, but now has a change of plea hearing set for Thursday, when he is expected to plead guilty.
Eggelletion, who was replaced with Albert C. Jones by Gov. Charlie Crist last month, apologized for his wrongdoing in last night's statement.
"I sincerely apologize to the community, to my many supporters, to the public at large for failing to uphold the honor and integrity of the office to which I was elected, and to my family for falling so far from the man they know me to be," he said. "I dishonored myself and my office, and I have begun the process of trying to atone for my actions."
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Eggelletion is no stranger to controversy. He was cleared of any wrongdoing in 2003 when he used a government-issued credit card to buy $3,300 worth of personal items. Two years later he paid a $2,500 fine to the state Ethics Commission after he was found to be working as a lobbyist at the same time he was a county commissioner.
In 2007, it was alleged that a construction company paid Eggelletion's $8,000 yearly membership dues to a country club. Projects by the construction company frequently came up for vote before the commission. He was formally charged in that case by the state in November, and could still face prison in that case.
He's looking at as much as five years in prison on the money laundering charge.
