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Public Corruption

The prosecution of public corruption is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Florida, which is home to the state capitol in Tallahassee and several of the state’s largest public universities.  Public corruption is a breach of the public’s trust by government officials who use their public office to obtain personal gain.  It is a violation of federal law for any federal, state, or local government official to ask for or receive anything of value in exchange for, or because of, any official act.  Under federal law, any person who offers or pays a bribe is also guilty.  These crimes are the result of secret deals, sealed with whispered conversations, quick handshakes, and money paid “under the table.”  Because of the secretive nature of bribes and shady deals, such crimes are often difficult to detect and even more difficult to prove without the assistance of concerned citizens. 

Details regarding the various types of public corruption investigated by the FBI can be found online at the following website: https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/public-corruption - Citizens may also report concerns by https://www.fbi.gov/tips

       

Updated January 8, 2020