By Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday a federal grand jury had voted to indict former Democratic mayor of Tallahassee and candidate for governor of Florida Andrew Gillum on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and forgery statements.
Gillum, 42, faces numerous criminal charges with his associate, Sharon Janet Lettman-Hicks, 53, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida said.
Gillum, who had sought to become Florida’s first black governor, lost the 2018 race to Republican rival Governor Ron DeSantis, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump.
The Justice Department has accused Gillum and Lettman-Hicks of conspiring to commit wire fraud by soliciting funds using “fraudulent promises” between 2016 and 2019.
The money they obtained was then allegedly routed to a company owned by Lettman-Hicks and disguised as payroll payments Gillum obtained for his personal use, the department said.
Gillum and Lettman-Hicks face 19 counts of wire fraud, and Gillum is also charged with making false statements to the FBI.
In a statement provided to NBC News, Gillum said the case was politically motivated. “There’s been a target on my back since I became mayor of Tallahassee,” he said. “They found nothing at that time, and I have full confidence that my legal team will prove my innocence now.”
(Reporting by Sarah N. LynchEditing by Bill Berkrot)
