Ex-GOP official faces 6 felony countsPosted: June 2nd, 2010
Washington (CNN) – Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer was charged Wednesday with six felony counts for allegedly directing state party funds to his consulting company, which were then used for his own personal gain.
Greer, 47, faces one count of organized fraud, four counts of grand theft and one count of money laundering, Statewide Prosecutor Bill Shepherd announced at a late morning press conference. The former GOP chairman was arrested at his home in Oviedo, Florida and is currently being held at the John Polk Correctional Facility in Sanford.
Greer, a political ally of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, was appointed state GOP party chairman in 2007 by Crist. But in February of this year, Greer left his post after a chorus of state Republican leaders and donors raised questions about his leadership and management of party funds.
Crist said news of Greer's arrest was "obviously disappointing and surprising," when asked about it Wednesday during a press conference about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
"I have faith in our judicial system," Crist said. "I know they will handle it appropriately."
Prosecutors charge that Greer steered $199,254 in state party money to a company, Victory Strategies, LLC, that he set up with former state Republican Party Executive Director Delmar Johnson. According to prosecutors, "Greer was paid $125,161" of the fees Victory Strategies collected from the state party. Prosecutors charge that Victory was given "a large amount for services that were never performed" by the company.
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