Indictment of Florida fund-raiser reads like a thriller

[ccharles000]

The indictment reads like a thriller: tales of bribed public officials and thwarted investigations; confederates with code names like Contributor #1 and Accomplice #2; and six-figure sums spent on luxuries like a $60,000-a-month mistress and a love nest.

Charges issued Wednesday by a federal grand jury, the second salvo of corruption allegations aimed at Broward's power elite in a week, accuse Hollywood eye doctor and political fund raiser Alan D. Mendelsohn of mail and wire fraud, aiding and abetting fraud and lying to federal agents.

"A fraudulent political fund raising and lobbying scheme," was how Assistant U.S. Attorney General Lanny Breuer summed up the government's case against the ophthamologist.

Arrested Wednesday morning, Mendelsohn pleaded not guilty and was released on a $100,000 personal surety bond.

The physician had served on Gov. Charlie Crist's transition team and was best known in Tallahassee as chief fundraiser for the Florida Medical Association's political action committee.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2009/10/indictment-of-florida-fundraiser-reads-like-a-thriller.html