Charles Gunter, son Chad and contractor plead guilty to charges of fraud and bid-rigging

Back in October, ANN reported that Charles Gunter, former director of Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, had been arrested and charged with grand theft, fraud and other crimes.

ANN has now learned that Mr. Gunter has pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to fraud and bid-rigging, and Gunter and his son Chad have agreed to repay thousands of stolen taxpayer dollars as part of the plea bargain agreement.

Along with son Chad, contractor Timothy Fierro of Altamonte Springs (FL) has also pleaded guilty to similar charges in a deal with prosecutors that spares them prison time but requires them to pay back nearly $55,000 of taxpayer money, according to a story in the Lakeland Legder.

Charles Gunter pleaded guilty to felony charges of grand theft of more than $300 and official misconduct. In addition, he also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to commit grand theft of more than $300, and conspiracy to request unlawful compensation for official behavior. As part of the plea bargain agreement, prosecutors dropped charges of bribery by a public servant, scheming to defraud and conspiracy to commit grand theft.

The elder Gunter will serve five years' probation and will not work as a contractor in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties during the same period. Sentencing is set for August 12.  
"This has been a long, hard time for my family," Gunter told Circuit Judge Roger Alcott. "It's been tough on us. . . . It's time to move on with our lives."

The 64-year old Gunter, who resigned in September to his $84,000 job as airport director of Lakeland Linder Airport, home of the Sun-N-Fun airshow and fly-in, did not take full responsibility for any wrong doing. Instead, he told Judge Alcott that he was pleading guilty "in his best interest."

Chad Gunter, age 32, pleaded guilty to contracting without a license, a misdemeanor. Prosecutors dropped charges of grand theft and conspiracy to commit grand theft, and Judge Alcott fined $500. However, he did not impose prison time or probation, as per the deal with the prosecutors.

Commenting on his focus on the elder Gunter during the investigation, Assistant State Attorney Chip Thullberry said that "Charles Gunter was the main actor and the party most responsible as a public official. The other two were minor players."

Lakeland Assistant City Manager Tony Delgado appeared relieved at the resolution of what had become an embarassing scandal. "The key here is that the citizens of Lakeland and the city of Lakeland are going to get back the money that's owed," Delgado said.

Gunter and Fierro were arrested in October on charges that they had stolen $20,000 of city funds by illegally inflating the fees for the construction of an airport hanger. Investigators testified that Gunter had approved forged change orders from Fierro's company in exchange for a 27-foot fishing boat. In December, both Gunter's were arrested after charges were filed stating that they had overcharged the city almost $50,000 for repairs at Lakeland Linder Airport.

(Photographs courtesy of the Lakeland Ledger)

FMI: http://www.lakelandgov.net/airport/