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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. \u2014<\/p>\nWEST PALM BEACH, Fla. \u2014<\/p>\n
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is promising a broader crackdown on public corruption following the conviction of former Fort Pierce City Manager Nicholas Mimms.<\/p>\n
A St. Lucie County jury found Mimms guilty of official misconduct but acquitted him of bid tampering.<\/p>\n
The case centered on two vacant, city-owned parcels in Fort Pierce and a nonprofit connected to Mimms\u2019 niece. Prosecutors said Mimms used his position to benefit the nonprofit and later concealed his involvement.<\/p>\n
Mimms\u2019 niece served on the nonprofit\u2019s board. The organization received a $500,000 grant from a Catholic charitable organization for a community center that was never built.<\/p>\n
Uthmeier pointed to the conviction as an example of the state\u2019s efforts to hold public officials accountable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to ensure the public that we are protecting their trust, that we are protecting taxpayers and that we are going to hold public officials to the oaths that they take,\u201d Uthmeier said.<\/p>\n
Uthmeier said the evidence showed that \u201cshenanigans took place\u201d to ensure the nonprofit received the award and that Mimms ultimately covered up his involvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will be punished for abusing his office,\u201d Uthmeier said.<\/p>\n
Uthmeier said his office\u2019s Public Corruption Unit has more than 25 active investigations or cases underway and described the Mimms case as the first of many public corruption cases the state expects to announce.<\/p>\n
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Larry Keefe said his agency is making public corruption investigations a priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one is too big, no one is too powerful to be held accountable,\u201d Keefe said.<\/p>\n
Uthmeier declined to comment on what sentence Mimms should receive. Official misconduct is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.<\/p>\n
Mimms is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 11.<\/p>\n
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