Former St. Johns commission chairman pleads guilty to $10,000 bribe
Tom Manuel has since repaid all but $3,400 of that money and must repay the rest
* By Paul Pinkham
Former St. Johns County Commission Chairman Thomas G. Manuel pleaded guilty today to one count of taking a $10,000 bribe.
He also admitted to taking a $50,000 bribe, but that was dropped in the plea agreement.
Manuel had insisted since a federal grand jury indicted him in October that he didn’t solicit and accept bribes to influence county business. He called the charges payback for taking on powerful people in the county.
Friday he confirmed the $10,000 was from the Falcone Group, developer of Twin Creeks, in return for his support of the development. The money was to be charitable contributions to his Political Action Committee and the Council on Aging.
He has since repaid all but $3,400 of that money and must repay the rest. The $50,000 was already seized.
Manuel, 64, told the judge Friday that he suffers from bipolar disorder and depression.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled. The maximum sentence for two counts of bribery is 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
Gov. Charlie Crist suspended Manuel Oct. 17, a day after he was indicted. The retired businessman and banker won a four-year term in 2006 as a Republican.
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