St. Johns official says FBI inquiry story is a lie

The Florida Times-Union

June 13, 2008

St. Johns official says FBI inquiry story is a lie

By PETER GUINTA,
St. Augustine Record

ST. AUGUSTINE - St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar said Thursday that County Commission Chairman Tom Manuel has been the target of a year-long FBI corruption investigation, but Manuel called the allegation "a political hatchet job."

The FBI never comments about ongoing investigations, but Shoar said Manuel could be indicted in two to six weeks by a federal grand jury in Jacksonville.

"That is absolutely untrue," Manuel said. "I've not been questioned or arrested. It's political slander. The sheriff's a liar."

He said he knew of no investigation into his public or private business and hasn't hired an attorney.

"It's a bunch of crap," Manuel said. "I'm home trying to take my kids to soccer."

Shoar said an investigation is a process, not a conclusion.

"The community needs to let this investigation continue," he said. "I have full confidence that the FBI is conducting a thorough one."

Manuel believes political opponents are unhappy with his efforts to drastically trim the county budget and with investigations he initiated into how the county spends money.

"I've saved the county more money than any commissioner," he said. "This [accusation] comes from my enemies."

Shoar said he would release details of the investigation only if there is an indictment.

"There has been an ongoing investigation by the FBI's public corruption unit," Shoar said. "It is my understanding that they're going to take evidence to a federal grand jury in the future, so the grand jury can have the opportunity to review that evidence and make a determination."

During the past few months, Manuel has received both high praise and strong criticism for his suggestion that the St. Augustine Airport Authority and the Anastasia Mosquito Control District could be incorporated into the county's administration, which would save hundreds of thousands of tax dollars a year.

He also is a strong supporter of limited growth in St. Johns County.

County Manager Michael Wanchick briefed the four other county commissioners Thursday.

"There is an active criminal investigation centered [on] Tom Manuel," Wanchick said.

"Because it's an active federal investigation, we have to be careful. I'm not in the position to provide any additional details at this time," he said.

Manuel said Wanchick had been briefed only by Shoar, not by FBI agents.

Commission Vice Chairwoman Cyndi Stevenson said she was saddened by the news.

"This can't be good for the county," Stevenson said. "I have none of the data, no hard facts. But we're all innocent until proven guilty."

Commissioner Ben Rich, a retired federal agent, said that if there's no arrest, there's no case.

"No one will be prosecuted for something they have not been arrested for," Rich said. "This is just rumor, character assassination and innuendo."

Manuel's last public appearance was Wednesday morning at a ceremony renaming a county road "Sgt. Tutten Drive" in honor of Sgt. Bryan Tutten of St. Augustine, who was killed in Iraq in 2007.

Manuel, a retired businessman and banker, refused during his election in 2006 to accept campaign checks from corporations or developers.

In his first try at public office, Manuel won the Republican primary over incumbent Bruce Maguire, then garnered 96 percent of the vote against a write-in candidate.



This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061308/met_290350980.shtml.