Mayor Dyer, Others Surrender In Orlando Election Fraud Case
Dyer, Apte and Sharp all declined comment to reporters as they left the Orange County Jail after being booked on one count of providing pecuniary gain for absentee ballot possession or collection. That's a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Dean Mosley, Thomas' attorney, said that just because his client was indicted doesn't necessarily mean that he will be prosecuted. He had no further comment. The grand jury had been investigating whether absentee ballots were illegally collected by a worker for Dyer's and Apte's campaigns before last year's election. A fourth indictment remains sealed until the person surrenders. Orange County State Attorney Brad King declined comment Friday, an aide said. Under Florida law, public officials charged with a felony can be suspended by the governor until their case is decided and they are removed if convicted. Gov. Jeb Bush is reviewing the charges against Dyer and Apte, but has not made a decision, spokesman Jacob DiPietre said. The grand jury looked into allegations that Thomas illegally gathered absentee ballots in predominantly black neighborhoods. Thomas was hired by Dyer's campaigns for Florida Attorney General and Orlando mayor to perform get-out-the-vote activities. Thomas also has worked for some of central Florida's most prominent politicians, including now-U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, when he was a local county official, and Secretary of State Glenda Hood, when she was mayor. Dyer has said that when he signed checks and approved invoices, worth about $10,000, for Thomas during his campaign. But the documents did not say what Thomas was being paid to do and Dyer has said he didn't know, either. Earlier this year, Dyer testified in a separate civil lawsuit deposition that he was not involved in field work with his campaign. The civil lawsuit was brought by the runner-up in the mayoral race, Ken Mulvaney, who sued to have the election thrown out. Dyer won re-election by nearly 5,000 votes but cleared the threshold that triggers a runoff by only 234. "I was mayor. I spent most of my time being mayor," Dyer said in the deposition. "I spent very little time actually on the campaign." Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
- March 9, 2005: Orlando Mayor Dyer Testifies Before Grand Jury
- March 9, 2005: Mayor Dyer To Testify About Alleged Vote Fraud
- January 7, 2005: Details Of Controversial Mayor's Race To Be Released
- August 4, 2004: Grand Jury Considers Potential Election Fraud Issues
- July 8, 2004: Orlando Mayoral Lawsuit Delayed
- May 22, 2004: FDLE Investigating Claims of Fraud In Mayoral Election
Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.









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