Brian Hamacher

FBI Probe Leads to Charges Against Tallahassee City Commissioner

A city commissioner who once chaired the Florida Democratic Party and briefly ran for governor faces dozens of corruption charges.

Federal prosecutors released a 44-count indictment Wednesday charging Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox and associate Paige Carter-Smith with bribery, racketeering, bank fraud, extortion and other crimes.

The FBI's investigation into Tallahassee corruption was an issue in the governor's race. Republican Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis said it was a sign his opponent, then-Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, couldn't be trusted.

The indictment alleges Maddox maintained an interest in a lobbying firm after he was elected in 2012, despite claims he sold the company to Carter-Smith and was no longer involved in it.

The indictment says the firm received payments from clients with business before the commission in exchange for favorable votes by Maddox.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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