Dixie County Commissioners and Building and Zoning Inspector Convicted of Bribery and False Statements

GAINESVILLE, FL—United States Attorney Thomas F. Kirwin, Northern District of Florida, announced today the convictions of former Dixie County Commissioners John “Big John” Driggers, 62, and Alton Land, 67, both of Cross City, Florida, and Dixie County Building and Zoning Inspector Billy Keen, 60, of Old Town, Florida for conspiring to accept bribes, accepting bribes, and lying to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

After a four day trial before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Stephan P. Mickle in Gainesville, Florida, the jury found each defendant guilty of conspiring to accept things of value with the intent to be influenced and rewarded in connection with transactions before the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners, the acceptance of bribes relating to developments in Dixie County, and making false statements to FBI agents investigating the official activities of the defendants. Evidence at trial included video and audio tapes of the defendants meeting with an undercover FBI agent and accepting cash payments for influence before the Dixie County Board of County Commissioners. The evidence at trial also showed that the defendants offered their approval for developments within Dixie County in exchange for money and other inducements, and attempted to influence members of the Board of County Commissioners to obtain their approval for these developments. Driggers was the chairman of the County Commission at the time of the offenses and both he and Land were long time members of the Board. Keen retired from his position with Dixie County shortly after the bribes were accepted.

The jury deliberated for five hours and returned the guilty verdicts on all the charges against each defendant. Driggers, Land, and Keen each face a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment for conspiracy (Count One), a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for the substantive offense of soliciting bribes (Count Two), and a maximum of five years’ imprisonment on each count of making false statements. The sentencing is scheduled for November 9, 2009, at 1:30 p.m.

Keen had also been convicted earlier this year in Federal Court of defrauding Dixie County of grant money to renovate his home. He is awaiting sentencing on that separate charge.

The indictment and resulting convictions resulted from the efforts of Special Agents Steve Amos and Jeff Thornburgh of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory (Greg) McMahon.