Former Miramar Commissioner Fitzroy Salesman was indicted on mail-fraud, extortion and bribery charges Thursday by a federal grand jury investigating allegations that the two-term politician steered city-construction contracts to undercover FBI agents posing as contractors.

Jeffrey H. Sloman, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, special agent in charge of the FBI's Miami Field Office, announced the filing of the five-count indictment.

``Public officials are entrusted to represent the best interests of their constituents, not use their office for personal gain,'' Gillies said in a written statement.

Salesman was arrested Sept. 23 and released on a $200,000 bond. Thursday's indictment more formally sets forth the charges against Salesman, who could not immediately be reached for a comment. Jason Kreiss, a defense attorney for Salesman, said his client ``intends to enter a not-guilty plea and vigorously defend against the allegations.''

Salesman's case is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in federal court Friday.

According to the criminal complaint filed by FBI Special Agent Kevin P. Griffin, Salesman accepted a total of $5,840 from April 2006 through July 2007 to steer city-construction contracts to undercover agents.

In all, Salesman helped route two contracts worth $62,841 to the undercover agents, the FBI report said. The contracts were for the construction of a gazebo at a city park, and the renovation of a gym floor at the Miramar Youth Enrichment Center.

Federal authorities have not charged anyone other than Salesman in the case. Yet the FBI's description of events reveals how Salesman turned to three unnamed city officials for help in moving the contracts along.

Salesman introduced the undercover agents to ``high-ranking city officials,'' who in turn helped the politician cement deals with the FBI agents, the affidavit shows.

Records obtained by The Miami Herald show that the FBI contractor was able to lower its initial estimate for the gym project, becoming the lowest of three bidders for the job.

Salesman, 52, was arrested as part of sweeping corruption investigations in Broward County that also led to the arrests of former Broward Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion Jr. and Broward School Board member Beverly Gallagher on separate charges.