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Date: 11-10-2021
Case Style:
Case Number: 4:18-cr-00076-RH-EMT
Judge: Robert L. Hinkle
Court: United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida (Leon County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Tallahassee, Florida criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with extortion, honest services fraud, use of an interstate facility to promote bribery, and making false statements.
John Thomas Burnette, 44, of Tallahassee, was charged with extortion, honest services fraud, use of an interstate facility to promote bribery, and making false statements.
At trial, the government presented evidence that Burnette engaged in a multi-year scheme with Maddox and his associate, Paige Carter-Smith, to commit extortion, fraud, and bribery. During the scheme, Burnette and Maddox extorted bribe payments from FBI undercover agents (UCs) who were posing as real estate developers and entrepreneurs. Burnette instructed the UCs that to obtain preferential treatment, they must pay bribes to Maddox through Governance Services. Burnette, Maddox, Carter-Smith, and the UCs agreed that the UCs would pay Governance Services $10,000 per month in exchange for Maddox agreeing to perform official acts meant to benefit the UCs’ apparent development company.
In 2017, FBI agents approached Burnette, identified themselves as FBI agents, and asked Burnette about his involvement in the bribe payments to Maddox. During the interview, Burnette repeatedly lied about his knowledge of the UCs’ payments to and involvement with Maddox.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody for the Northern District of Florida made the announcement.
The FBI and IRS–Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Deputy Chief Peter M. Nothstein and Trial Attorney Rosaleen T. O’Gara of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen M. Kunz and Andrew J. Grogan of the Northern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 36 months custody BOP on Counts 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9, to run concurrently. 1 year Supervised Release. $500 SMA $1,250,000 Fine. Restitution in the amount of $20,000 jointly and severally with co-defendants.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: