A former Daytona Beach state representative is facing up to 180 years in prison for using campaign funds personally.
Democrat Dwayne Taylor was convicted Thursday on nine counts of wire fraud.
According to a news release, federal prosecutors say during Taylor’s 2012 and 2014 reelection campaigns, he falsely reported thousands of dollars of expenditures to the state in order to conceal his misappropriation of more than $60,000 in campaign cash.
At his trial, they presented evidence of a series of cash withdrawals, checks written to himself, and checks written to petty cash — all of it then spent in ways unrelated to the campaign.
“It is disappointing that an elected official would exploit the generosity of his constituents to advance his personal lifestyle,” said Charles P. Spencer, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “Corrupt public officials undermine the integrity of our government and violate the public’s trust, which is why combating public corruption remains the FBI’s top criminal priority."
Taylor is the third North Florida lawmaker to be convicted of similar crimes since last fall. Former Democratic Congresswoman Corrine Brown is awaiting sentencing in a fraudulent charity scheme. And former Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D- Jacksonville) is serving house arrest on fraud and tax convictions.
Taylor’s sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 16.
