Jun.29, 2010

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Charlie Crist and a future Florida House speaker are listed as witnesses in the criminal corruption case against former state Republican chairman Jim Greer.

Those revelations emerged late Tuesday as prosecutors released hundreds of pages of evidence and a taped telephone call related to Greer's indictment in state court earlier this month on six felony counts of theft, money laundering and orchestrating a scheme to defraud the Republican Party of Florida.

Altogether, the documents lay out an intricate web of deceit sown by Greer and his cohort, Delmar Johnson, the party's former executive director, as they created a secret agreement involving a company called Victory Strategies LLC. Prosecutors say this deal siphoned $200,000 in party donations into the shell company. They also include some intriguing political tidbits with possible repercussions on the November elections.

Crist, who hand-picked Greer for the chairmanship, will face the toughest questions as he campaigns as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate. He is listed as a low-priority witness, probably because of his close connection to Greer, and it is unclear whether he will be called to testify at trial.

Authorities interviewed witnesses who suggested Crist knew about the secret fundraising contract at the center of the investigation, something Greer's attorney has previously suggested.

Crist gave a sworn affidavit on May 10 and submitted it May 21. In it he denies knowing about Victory Strategies and its secret agreement, and said he did not authorize Greer to enter into the contract.

Johnson has been cooperating with authorities in the case. On Tuesday, investigators also released a recording of an intriguing telephone conversation between Greer and Johnson from March 25, months after Republican Party leaders ousted Greer and Johnson resigned amid growing questions about the party's finances.

Johnson, the former party executive director and the godfather of Greer's son Aidan, agreed to make the call as part of an immunity agreement he signed with prosecutors to spare himself from criminal prosecution, even though investigators acknowledged he ``aided and abetted Greer.''

Asked about the immunity deal, Johnson's attorney Bob Levinthal said it was fair.

``What would the state party auditors and state law enforcement know if not for Delmar Johnson?'' he said. ``Maybe you could equate him with a whistle-blower . . . who gets rewarded for his cooperation.''

On the phone call, the two started with a discussion of the persistent rumors of a criminal investigation.

``I mean, tell me what kind of rumors you're hearing,'' Greer told Johnson.

``Just that I'm going to be arrested any day. I'm going to be indicted, and you're cooperating with the FBI. All kinds of crazy stuff,'' Johnson said.

``Delmar, let me tell you about that,'' Greer replied. ``I heard the same thing about me, that I was going to be indicted and I was going to be arrested. And the exact opposite, that you were cooperating with people. Which is almost a joke, because what would you or I be cooperating with -- against each other. I mean, it's comical.''

A week after the phone call, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement disclosed it was investigating Greer and state GOP finances -- an investigation apparently well under way by the time it was announced.

A March 29 taped phone call between the two men listed in the court documents was not released.

Despite the rumors, Greer's tone throughout the ordeal is defiant, according to the documents. In the phone call, Greer mentioned to Johnson several times that his attorneys told him he did nothing wrong. And he suggests ``services and goods were provided'' for the money the clandestine company, Victory Strategies, received from the party.

Among the other new details in the documents:

• John Harris, a government consultant for the GrayRobinson law firm, told investigators he helped Greer set up Victory Strategies and intentionally hid -- at Greer's urging -- the chairman's name on the incorporation papers.

• Capitalizing on his position of influence at the party, Greer entered into a contract with Mardi Gras gaming during the 2008 legislative session to help generate support for a tax break the company sought on its slot machines. Greer was to be paid $7,500 a month, or $90,000 a year, to lead a petition campaign to put an amendment on the ballot to lower the tax rate for the state's dog tracks, said Dan Adkins, head of Mardi Gras.

• Johnson will pay $65,093 in restitution to the Republican Party and testify truthfully, if called, before a federal grand jury. Federal authorities are also investigating GOP finances and improper spending on party credit cards.