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Investigation of Hernando Co. Kickback Scheme Continues

BROOKSVILLE, FL - Nearly two months after Hernando County Fleet Director Jack Stepongzi's resignation, the state attorney's office and the sheriff's department continue their joint investigation into the activities of the fleet department.

by Staff
December 23, 2009
1 min to read


BROOKSVILLE, FL- Based on almost two months investigation, it appears former Hernando County Fleet Director Jack Stepongzi's personal payments on the side were confined to only one parts supplier, according to Hernando Today.

However, the newspaper said the investigation is "ongoing", with more vendors throughout the country still being checked. The state attorney's office and the sheriff's department have been jointly conducting an investigation into the activities of the fleet department, a move prompted by an expose in Hernando Today of alleged kickbacks by its former director.

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Assistant State Attorney Mark Simpson said it looks at this point as if Stepongzi only received personal checks from one vendor out of Texas. Simpson told Hernando Today he got involved after reading the newspaper's Oct. 30 article where Stepongzi admitted to a reporter he was accepting 10 percent commissions on the purchase of GPS units from Texas-based Velocity between December 2007 and July 2008.  In all, Stepongzi said he had received $332.

Stepongzi resigned Oct. 30 after county officials learned he had been receiving payments from a county vendor.


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