county employee arrested for bribery
permalink | categories: citizens, county, crime, development, news, tampa, tax wasteby tommy @ 6:24 pm
From Hillsborough County:
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office today arrested a Hillsborough County employee for fraudulently altering contractors’ records. Gisella Martinez, formerly a clerk at the County’s Planning and Growth Management Department, is being charged with unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior, official misconduct and bribery.
The arrest is the result of a County employee coming forward with information, which resulted in a joint internal investigation by the County’s independent Professional Responsibility Section (PRS) and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. PRS investigators began working with local law enforcement on the case in December 2005.
One other employee was arrested on similar charges in November. Both employees are suspended without pay pending a disciplinary hearing.
County inspectors have identified contractors involved and have found no construction problems and have determined the work was done properly. Investigators continue to ensure that construction work is meeting codes. Once the Sheriff’s Office completes its investigation and releases the names of the contractors involved, we will contact the public and offer re-inspections on work performed.
The County Administrator’s Office has also asked the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Internal Auditor to assist with reviewing and implementing more internal control practices for the Planning and Growth Management Department. The County is already producing procedural manuals, and has modified software for security improvements.
Hillsborough County will not tolerate illegal or unethical behavior and will continue to work closely with the Sheriff’s Office in this investigation. Under the direction of Pat Bean, County Administrator, the County has implemented a formal Ethics Policy, requires Ethics Training for all personnel and established the internal investigation program of PRS.
For information on the investigation, please contact Debbie Carter, HCSO Public Information Officer at 247-8059.
Other than her arrest today, the Sheriff’s website has no further information.
Tags: citizens, county, crime, development, news, tampa, tax waste
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January 24th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Hillsborough County will not tolerate illegal or unethical behavior/
That sentence is VERY droll.
January 24th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
What you don’t get from the text is the guy that was standing behind her when she typed that page coughing “bullshit” into his fist.
January 24th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
so that is how you get a permit in Hillsborough County. Who would of thought.
January 25th, 2007 at 6:21 am
That or let the tax collector cop a feel.
January 25th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Must be a typo. The sentence should read:
“Hillsborough County richly rewards illegal or unethical behavior.”
January 25th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Jason and Meredith are my NEW BEST FRIENDS.
January 25th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
This arrest is reminiscent of taking the low-level crack dealer off the street … for fifteen minutes.
They want the slow seats to believe they’re ‘ON IT’
But, I digress ….
December 30th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
i have continually been harassed by kathy ebert of the hillsborough county parks and recreations and they do nothing. got a call from a county investigator saying drop my issues or they will come and arrest me on bogus charges. gov’t always seems to be above the law and if not they intimidate you until you go away.