Dec.11, 2009

Suspended Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion pleaded guilty Thursday morning in a federal corruption case and resigned from office, ending his two-decade political career.

The plea to one felony count of conspiracy to commit money laundering represents a steep fall for a leader who served in the state Legislature before winning a county seat in 2000. The 60-year-old politician faces up to five years in prison at his sentencing Feb. 17.

After the hearing, a somber Eggelletion started to read a statement but choked up in tears. He handed the statement to one of his lawyers and walked away from reporters toward his wife.

‘I have always enjoyed helping people and subscribed to the principle that government should help people: as such, I took great pride and treasured the opportunity to fulfill the duties of my elected office,’ read the statement.

‘I am severely disappointed with my recent actions that have led to the federal case against me.’

Eggelletion faxed his resignation to Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday.

By accepting responsibility and admitting guilt, Eggelletion is hoping to reduce the length of his prison term. But when he is released from prison, he will be a convicted felon who cannot vote or run for office.

During the brief court hearing, the politician from Lauderdale Lakes admitted he had been undergoing treatment for alcoholism. He also said that he had been treated for prostate cancer and would likely undergo an operation in January.

Last month Eggelletion entered a not guilty plea to a 15-page information. But it was clear that he intended to change his plea because the information included only a single count. Federal authorities had described multiple occasions of money laundering for a total of around $1 million but did not charge him with those additional offenses.

Eggelletion was arrested in September as part of a federal corruption probe that also led to charges against Broward School Board Member Beverly Gallagher, who has since been suspended, and former Miramar City Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman.

The case against Eggelletion began in 2006 when an undercover agent reached out to the politician by donating $5,000 to his golf foundation. That led them to partner on what Eggelletion thought were business deals.

Eggelletion tried to enrich himself by laundering money through bank accounts in the Bahamas and by evading federal taxes on about $18,200 in cash payments, according to the information. He is accused of conspiring with two Broward businessmen, Ron Owens and Joel Williams, and Bahamian attorney Sidney Cambridge.

Those cases are still pending but Owens' attorney Mark Panunzio said Thursday he expects his client to plead guilty.

Under questioning by U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks, Eggelletion admitted to the acts outlined in the information. His repeated faint responses -- ``yes sir your honor'' were in marked contrast to the lengthy, passionate speeches he typically gave at County Hall.

Crist suspended Eggelletion from office after his September arrest. Last month Crist appointed Dania Beach Commissioner Al Jones to replace Eggelletion to represent the district, which stretches from Fort Lauderdale to Pompano Beach.

Jones, a Republican, plans to run in the overwhelmingly Democratic district next fall. Three Democrats who had filed to run in 2012 will likely run next year: Lauderhill Commissioner Margaret Bates, pastor Allen B. Jackson and former Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Carlton Moore.

Eggelletion faced a slew of ethical and legal problems in the past -- including twice paying fines for submitting financial disclosures late. In 2005, the Florida Commission on Ethics fined Eggelletion $2,500 for voting to give a trash-hauling contract to a firm he lobbied for before the Miramar City Commission.

Eggelletion bounced back from those challenges and fought off opponents to hold on to his county seat.

His legal troubles are far from over. He still faces an unlawful compensation charge from the state related to a reported free golf membership from a developer.

Eggelletion, who earned about $90,000 a year as a county commissioner, will also likely face a battle to hang on to his $6,000-a-month pension.

‘I feel bad for him after having such a great career -- at the end of it he had to have something like this happen,’ said State Rep. Joe Gibbons, a Democrat of Hallandale Beach, who will likely be among leaders who will send letters of support at the former politician's sentencing.