ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – In a shocking turn of events, Will Randy Rogers, 64, a former St. Johns County construction inspector, has pleaded guilty to the heinous crime of extortion, according to United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III. Rogers now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for his despicable actions.
The businessman at the center of this case reported that Rogers had been extorting him since August 2013. Under threat of fabricated code violations with the potential to decimate his business finances, Rogers demanded pay-offs. The businessman, savvy enough to record the extortionist’s demands, paid Rogers a total of $7,500 between July 2013 and April 2014.
It was during one such encounter on April 1, 2014, that Rogers accepted another $2,000 in cash from the businessman. Unbeknownst to Rogers, this was his final mistake, as FBI agents, stopping him in his county-issued vehicle, recovered the cash and arrested him.
According to the plea agreement, Rogers often conducted these meetings while driving his St. Johns County-issued vehicle, adding an official’s badge of honor to his criminal activities. The FBI, led by Assistant United States Attorney Julie Hackenberry, is now tasked with bringing justice to the businessman who bravely exposed this corruption.
As this case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the corrupt practices that can hide within the corridors of power and the vigilant efforts required to bring such individuals to justice. The public’s trust has been violated, but with every conviction like Rogers’, that trust is restored.
The defendant is scheduled for sentencing at a later date. Until then, the grimy truths of this case continue to cast a long shadow over St. Johns County’s government.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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