8,078
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
no edit summary
[[Image:WillieJunior.jpg|right|Willie Junior]]
'''Willie J. Junior''' ([[1942]] - [[2004]]) was a prominent African-American businessman, founder of the [[Junior Funeral Home]], and the first black member of the [[Escambia County Commission]]. He was removed from office in [[2002]] for his part in the [[soccer complex corruption scandal]], in which he took a $90,000 bribe from fellow Commissioner [[W.D. Childers]] to vote on a County land purchase later deemed inappropriate. He was convicted on corruption charges, but disappeared before being sentenced. His body was discovered on [[December 9]], [[2004]] under the home of a former employee.
==Early life==
==Corruption scandal==
{{main|Soccer complex corruption scandal}}
On [[October 4]], [[2001]], Junior added an item to the [[Escambia County Commission]] agenda, proposing to negotiate a purchase price for the old [[Pensacola Soccer Complex]], which was approved unanimously. The Commission voted 3-2 on [[November 1]] to approve the $3.9 million purchase from real estate salesman [[Joe Elliott]] and his wife [[Georgann Elliott|Georgann]]. Junior voted in the majority with fellow commissioners [[W.D. Childers]] and [[Mike Bass]]. On [[January 10]], [[2002]], the Commission offered $2.3 million for another property owned by the Elliotts, the defunct [[Stalnaker Mazda]] dealership. Both votes were passed without any public discussion. The properties were later appraised well below the amount paid by the County.
Junior came under public scrutiny when his financial disclosure reports were found with numerous discrepancies and unexplained revenue. A grand jury subpoenaed [[Escambia County Supervisor of Elections]] [[Bonnie Jones]] for Junior's records on [[February 6]]. It was eventually disclosed that many of Junior's business debts were erased with a single payment of $291,542 on [[October 2]], [[2002]] — two days before he voted with the Commission to purchase the soccer complex.<ref>"New financial details raise more questions." ''Pensacola News Journal'', February 9, 2002.</ref> During this time, Junior incurred heavy legal costs from attorneys [[Charles Liberis]] and [[Michael Griffith]], forcing him to mortgage his funeral home.<ref>"Legal woes put commissioner deeper in debt." ''Pensacola News Journal'', April 28, 2002.</ref>
Junior, along with the Elliotts and fellow Commissioners [[W.D. Childers|Childers]], [[Mike Bass|Bass]] and [[Terry Smith|Smith]], were indicted on [[April 30]], [[2002]]. Governor [[Wikipedia:Jeb Bush|Jeb Bush]] suspended the commissioners by executive order on [[May 1]].<ref>[http://www.state.fl.us/eog_new/eog/library/releases/2002/may/escambia-05-01-02.html State press release]</ref> [[Marie Young]] was appointed to fill Junior's [[Escambia County District 3|District 3]] seat.
On [[September 17]], [[2002]], Junior pleased no contest to political corruption charges and agreed to testify against Childers. Junior might have faced a maximum sentence of 125 years for the felony bribery and money laundering charges, but his plea agreement ensured a sentence of no more than 18 months.<ref>"[http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/18/State/Escambia_commissioner.shtml Escambia commissioner enters corruption plea.]" Associated Press, September 18, 2002.</ref>
