BROWARD COUNTY
Ex-Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion faces new charges
Already facing federal charges in connection with a public-corruption probe, former Broward Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion surrendered on state felony charges.

BY PAULA MCMAHON
Sun Sentinel
Suspended Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion is facing another criminal charge -- this time from state prosecutors who charged him Thursday with one count of receiving unlawful compensation, a second-degree felony.
Eggelletion is accused of accepting a $3,200 golf membership at the Parkland Golf and Country Club paid for by Shawn Chait, who works for Prestige Homes of South Florida, ``in exchange for nearly three years of favorable treatment for Prestige Homes on business before the County Commission,'' said Ron Ishoy, a spokesman for the Broward State Attorney's Office.
Eggelletion surrendered to authorities on Thursday and quickly bonded out. His attorney Johnny McCray Jr. said he and Eggelletion would review the evidence before deciding how to handle the case. Unlike his September arrest by federal agents, McCray knew this charge was coming and Eggelletion agreed in advance to turn himself in.
``We wanted him to surrender so the police wouldn't come to the house with guns upsetting his family,'' McCray said.
Chait paid for the golf membership in cash on Aug. 22, 2006, the same day that Eggelletion voted in favor of a Prestige Homes proposal that was before the County Commission, according to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint Thursday.
If convicted of the state charge, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
``He was taking money in connection with his official government duties,'' prosecutor Tim Donnelly said of the unlawful-compensation charge.
Eggelletion, 60, of Lauderdale Lakes, already faces federal charges accusing him of involvement in a $900,000 money-laundering scheme with three co-defendants. The men are charged with laundering money through the Bahamas and St. Croix. Eggelletion is free on bond on those charges, too. The federal charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Donnelly said the public-corruption investigation has been underway for more than a year, and is continuing. He would not comment on whether the Chaits or Prestige Homes could also face charges.
``We have no comment because it's an ongoing criminal investigation,'' Donnelly said.
Eggelletion was released from jail on Thursday on a $3,500 bond.
The Aug. 22, 2006, County Commission vote on Prestige Homes was to approve the project and send it to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for review.
State prosecutors charge that Eggelletion voted on a total of six items dealing with Prestige Homes between the date when he received the golf membership and June 23.
Prestige Homes is the developer of a proposed community of 728 homes on two golf courses in Tamarac known as the Sabal Palm/Monterey development. And Chait is the son of Bruce Chait, the company president of Prestige Homes.
About $5 million worth of work has been done on the development, which is on hold because of the recession.
State and federal authorities are investigating the allegations regarding Eggelletion and Prestige Homes.
The proposed development was opposed by many Tamarac residents but won approval from the city and county governments.
Other allegations have also surfaced regarding Prestige Homes.
Former Tamarac Mayor Joe Schreiber alleged that Bruce Chait in 2006 tried to get Schreiber's wife, Mae, whose opponent supported the development, to drop out of an election.
Schreiber said Bruce Chait offered the couple $200,000 if Mae Schreiber would agree, but the couple talked it over and rejected the offer the next day. They did not report it to authorities.
School Board Member Stephanie Kraft's actions in relation to Prestige Homes have also been questioned by government ethics experts. Public records show Kraft pushed to get the developer's request for a $500,000 break on school mitigation fees for the same project rushed onto the board's July 2007 agenda.
Kraft's husband, lawyer Mitchell Kraft, was working for Prestige at the time, district records show.
Stephanie Kraft left the room during the School Board vote but did not publicly disclose that her spouse was working for the company. The Krafts have denied any wrongdoing.
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