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Former Defense Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Bribery Scheme
A former defense attorney in Florida has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for conspiring to bribe an elected state attorney. Ernest Maloney Page, IV, 46, of Madison, was sentenced on [no date provided] by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard.
Page pleaded guilty on September 3, 2020, to conspiring to bribe the elected State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit. The court also ordered Page to serve an 18-month term of supervised release.
According to court documents, Page represented a client facing two separate driving under the influence (DUI) cases in the Third Judicial Circuit. The client managed a tractor dealership in Live Oak. Page arranged a meeting with then-State Attorney Jeffrey Siegmeister to discuss the client’s pending DUI cases. Page informed Siegmeister that the client had a tractor dealership, and Siegmeister told Page he wanted to purchase a tractor. Page encouraged Siegmeister to visit the client at his dealership.
In August 2017, Siegmeister told Page that he would give favorable treatment to the client for one of his pending DUI cases for a bribe in the form of a $10,000 discount on the tractor, and that he would give favorable treatment to the client on both pending DUI cases for a bribe in the form of a $20,000 discount on the tractor. Page relayed this information to his client, who indicated he wished to accept the offer and agreed to provide the $20,000 discount to Siegmeister. Page then told Siegmeister his client had accepted the offer.
Siegmeister arranged for the client to resolve the DUI charges by pleading to reckless driving charges, which were traffic misdemeanors.
On September 20, 2017, Siegmeister’s wife went to the tractor dealership and met with the client, who discounted the retail price of the tractor and accessories by $10,000, consistent with his agreement to pay Siegmeister a bribe facilitated by Page. The client also notated the sales paperwork to falsely state that the Siegmeister’s provided a cash down payment of $10,150, when no such down payment was made.
On September 28, 2017, Siegmeister signed an Offer of Plea, authorizing the client to plead no contest to the misdemeanor charges of reckless driving with alcohol. On the same day, the client’s plea was entered, and the client was sentenced to 12 months’ probation.
Ernest Maloney Page, IV, has been held accountable for his role in facilitating corruption within the judicial system. His actions put lives at risk, and the FBI will continue to work alongside law enforcement partners to hold individuals in positions of authority accountable. The IRS-Criminal Investigation team also played a crucial role in the case, following the money trail and uncovering the bribery scheme.
This case demonstrates the collective efforts to enforce the law and ensure public trust. The FBI and IRS will continue to investigate and prosecute cases of public corruption and bribery, ensuring that those who break the law are held accountable.
Mandatory Facts:
- Defendant: Ernest Maloney Page, IV
- Criminal Charges: Conspiring to bribe the elected State Attorney for the Third Judicial Circuit
- City and State: Jacksonville, Florida
- Crime Date: August 2017
- Sentence: Six months in federal prison, 18-month term of supervised release
- Dollar Amounts: $10,000 discount on a tractor, $20,000 discount on a tractor
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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