FDLE arrests former chair of the Republican Party of Florida
Jim Greer, 47, former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida has been arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The Nineteenth Statewide Grand Jury, led by Statewide Prosecutor Bill Shepherd, indicted Greer on the following charges: one count of organized fraud, one count of money laundering, and four counts of grand theft.
FDLE began its investigation in March after receiving information from Attorney General Bill McCollum which indicated possible criminal activity surrounding Greer and Victory Strategies, LLC. At the beginning of Greer’s second term as chairman, he appointed Delmar W. Johnson, III as the new executive director of the RPOF and soon after appointed him the new RPOF fundraiser. Investigators allege that Greer told Johnson that the two of them would take 10 percent of all major donor fundraising coming into the RPOF and split it.
As chairman of the RPOF, Greer’s salary and compensation was established by the Executive Board of the Republican Party of Florida.
In February 2009, Victory Strategies, LLC was formed with Johnson listed as president/secretary/treasurer and with 40 percent of the shares and Greer listed with no officer position but with 60 percent of the shares. After forming the company, a fundraising service agreement was signed between RPOF and Victory Strategies, LLC making Victory Strategies, LLC a new vendor for RPOF.
In February 2009, investigators say Johnson, at the direction of Greer, opened a bank account for Victory Strategies, LLC with himself as the only signatory on the account. Investigators allege this was done to conceal the flow of money to Greer. Between February and October 2009, the RPOF paid Victory Strategies, LLC a total of $199,254. Of that, Greer was paid $125,161 while keeping his ownership interest hidden. Investigators allege this includes a large amount for services that were never performed.
Greer was arrested at his residence in Oviedo and booked into the Seminole County Jail. FDLE’s investigation remains active.
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement