Orlando, Florida - Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announces that a federal jury today found former Florida House of Representatives member Dwayne L. Taylor (49, Daytona Beach) guilty of nine counts of wire fraud. Taylor faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 16, 2017.
According to evidence presented at trial, during Taylor’s 2012 and 2014 reelection campaigns, he falsely reported thousands of dollars of expenditures to the State of Florida in order to conceal his misappropriation of over $60,000 in campaign funds through a series of unreported cash withdrawals, checks written to himself, and checks written to petty cash, in violation of Florida law. Taylor then used the misappropriated funds for personal expenditures unrelated to his re-election campaigns.
According to Florida law, all campaign contributions and expenditures must be reported to the State of Florida, and neither a candidate nor the spouse of a candidate may use funds deposited in a campaign account to defray normal living expenses for the candidate or the candidate’s family, other than expenses actually incurred for transportation, meals, and lodging during travel in the course of the campaign.
“These types of crimes erode the public trust in our elected officials," said Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow. “This conviction sends a clear message that such acts will not be tolerated and that we will hold anyone who breaks the law accountable for their actions."
“It is disappointing that an elected official would exploit the generosity of his constituents to advance his personal lifestyle," said Charles P. Spencer, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “Corrupt public officials undermine the integrity of our government and violate the public’s trust, which is why combating public corruption remains the FBI’s top criminal priority."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Roger B. Handberg and Embry J. Kidd.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
