The Florida Department of Law Enforcement took Jim Greer, 47, into custody at his Orlando-area home. He is charged with one count of organized fraud, four counts of felony grand theft and one count of money laundering, said William Shepherd, Florida’s statewide prosecutor.

From Newsmax.com

The former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida was arrested Wednesday for allegedly running a scam bilking money from the party.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement took Jim Greer, 47, into custody at his Orlando-area home. He is charged with one count of organized fraud, four counts of felony grand theft and one count of money laundering, said William Shepherd, Florida’s statewide prosecutor.

Greer funneled party money to a company called Victory Strategies that he controlled and concealed his relationship with, investigators said. On Greer’s orders, the Republican Party of Florida paid Victory Strategies for campaign work, much of which was never performed. That was in addition to a 10 percent cut of major donations to the party that Greer took along with his top assistant, Delmar Johnson, Shepherd said.

Greer got about $125,000 of the almost $200,000 that the party paid Victory Strategies, the statewide prosecutor said.

Victory Strategies also received money from a fund Greer had set up for his re-election campaign as party chairman, he added.

Greer resigned in February after reports surfaced that he used party funds on ritzy hotels, gourmet restaurants and private jets. Johnson is helping with the investigation and isn’t being charged, prosecutors said. He declined comment when contacted by text message Wednesday.

Greer’s steep descent from party chairman to pariah could drag down Gov. Charlie Crist’s bid for U.S. Senate. The two are longtime allies, and Crist backed Greer until the day he stepped down.

FULL STORY

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