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Tony Nelson’s Corruption Convictions Upheld
A federal appeals court has reaffirmed the corruption convictions of former Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPort) Chairman Tony Devaughan Nelson. The convictions, which include bribery, money laundering, honest services mail fraud, and making a false statement to the FBI, were met with a 40-month prison sentence.
Nelson was found guilty of demanding and accepting $143,500 in bribes from a dredging contractor at JAXPort. This conviction was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
On appeal, Nelson argued that his convictions should be vacated due to the federal fraud and bribery statutes being unconstitutionally vague, the district court’s jury instructions being improper, and the court admitting the testimony of JAXPort’s director of procurement as improper. The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida, Inc., and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers also filed an amicus brief on Nelson’s behalf.
However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a split decision, with the majority holding that the challenged statutes provided Nelson with adequate notice of the conduct they prohibit, that the district court’s instructions correctly propelled the jury to look at Nelson’s state of mind when taking payments in exchange for his influence, and that the challenged evidence was relevant and not unfairly prejudicial.
The appeal was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Rhodes and Susan H. Rothstein-Youakim. The underlying case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mac D. Heavener, III, and Mark B. Devereaux.
The convictions of Tony Nelson serve as a reminder that corruption in public office will not be tolerated. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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