Tag Archives: sansom

United Police States of America: FBI investigates Florida prison deal involving GEO and the Republican Party

August 24, the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized a Santa Rosa County commissioner’s computer. It’s in connection with an investigation involving former Florida House Speaker Ray Sansom, and GEO Group.

Sansom is being investigated for improper use of the Republican Party of Florida credit card, in which thousands of dollars in charges where made, that do not appear related to Republican Party of Florida business.

The FBI now suspects that GEO Group, and Sansom made improper deals in order to guarantee that GEO Group would get the contract to run the Blackwater River Correctional Facility, in Santa Rosa County.

Back in July the FBI issued three subpoenas to the Florida legislature. One for all travel vouchers relating to Sansom, and his aides: Melanie Phister, Eric Edwards, Dort Baltes and Samantha Sullivan.

The second subpoena was specifically for Samantha Sullivan, and related to campaign finance.  The third subpoena related to GEO Group, and Sansom’s role is getting GEO the prison contract.  GEO Group is one of the biggest supporters of the Republican Party of Florida.

GEO run prisons have histories of violence and sexual assaults.