Several former Lynn Haven, Fla. officials have been charged with conspiring to bilk billions of hurricane cleanup money from the federal government, according to the U.S. attorney's office Tuesday.
Former Lynn Haven City Manager Michael White and former community services director David Horton were arrested, as well as Erosion Control Specialists owner David White and Greenleaf Lawn Care owner Joshua Anderson, according to NBC Miami. U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe said that the former Lynn Haven officials "approved false invoices for the two companies...for work they never performed," using $5 million in Hurricane Michael cleanup money.
According to NBC Miami, "The officials approved payments to the companies and then sought reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency."
However, according to Panama City News Herald article, other Lynn Haven city officials were also linked to corruption in the case ("Four more Lynn Haven city officials linked to public corruption case"). According to the article, "indictment records obtained by The News Herald make mention of the mayor, city attorney, community services director, and one commissioner in the unfolding public corruption case."
To read the NBC Miami story, go to https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Florida-Officials-Bilked-FEMA-Out-of-Hurricane-Money-Feds-565187772.html. To read the Panama City News Herald article, go to https://www.newsherald.com/news/20191119/four-more-lynn-haven-city-officials-linked-to-public-corruption-case.
