FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Father-and-son developers in South Florida implicated many local officials in bribery in sworn statements to prosecutors, court documents reveal.
The documents obtained Monday by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, which filed an open records request, include sworn testimony from Bruce and Shawn Chait, who are expected to plead guilty soon to bribery charges, the newspaper said.
The Chaits said they handed out thousands of dollars to ensure a favorable vote on a plan to build 700 houses in Tamarac. One local official, former Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, is already serving a prison term after pleading guilty to receiving $25,000 in cash and a golf club membership.
Bruce Chait said he retained Beverly Stracher, a public relations consultant, at the urging of County Commissioner Ilene Lieberman. He said most of his dealings were with Stracher, who referred to Lieberman in their conversations as "the redhead". UPI
