Former Florida Department Of Transportation Employee Pleads Guilty In Bribery And Fraud Case

Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Robert E. O'Neill announces that Tina Moore a/k/a Tina Pollard (55, Daytona Beach) pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy and money laundering. Moore is facing a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Moore was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 2, 2012.

According to her plea agreement, Moore was a Right of Way Agent with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and was responsible for assisting people and businesses displaced by FDOT projects. One of Moore's assigned projects involved the acquisition of properties for the purpose of widening Interstate 4. One of the businesses displaced by that project was MLA Furniture, which was located on Garland Avenue, in Orlando. Moore used her position to solicit and obtain bribes and rewards from the owners of MLA Furniture, in return for assisting MLA Furniture in continuing to remain at the Garland Avenue location. Moore knowingly submitted fraudulent claims to the FDOT for the relocation expenses of MLA Furniture. In total, she received $30,000 in bribes, consisting of $20,000 in checks and $10,000 in cash.

On March 29, 2012, Jonathan Aubrey Jenkins, one of the owners of MLA Furniture, pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2013. Jenkins faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and the Florida Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.