Sheriff to look into donation from man in drug bust

Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti said he will look into a $500 donation he received in September from World Jet -- a company owned by Don Whittington, who was convicted in a drug ring in the 1980s.

Lamberti said he isn't sure if the Broward Sheriff's Office was involved in the federal investigation of brothers Don and Bill Whittington. But Lamberti, who was BSO's deputy director of organized crime in the late 1980s, said BSO often teamed up with federal agencies.

"I remember the name,'' he said, referring to Whittington.

Don Whittington pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the IRS and filing a false income tax return in 1987 and served about 18 months in prison. His brother Bill was imprisoned for importing marijuana and income tax evasion. The brothers forfeited $7 million in assets to the federal government as part of the plea deal.

Starting in the late 1970s, Bill smuggled tons of marijuana by boat from Columbia to Florida while Don laundered the profits by investing in yachts, businesses and other sources.

The brothers were famous auto racing champions who won the 24 hours of Le Mans race in the 1970s.

Lamberti, a Republican, is in a competitive contest for sheriff against Democrat Scott Israel.

Lamberti said the donation came from a fundraiser at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport -- the location of World Jet.

"I'll take a look at it,'' Lamberti said. "If it's a problem it will go back.''

Lamberti recently told the Miami Herald that he would not take donations from unscrupulous individuals or felons.

"You don't want to be associated with people like that at all,'' he said.

It's not unusual for former felons to give to political candidates in South Florida. Earlier this year after a Miami Herald news article, Israel refunded a donation from Brian Neiman, a notorious paralegal convicted of insurance fraud. But he didn't refund the donation from Neiman's business, The Formula. Israel said he didn't know Neiman who gave through a law firm fundraiser.

Supporters of Lamberti and Israel could use information about donations for last minute attack ads.

"If the one thing you get into voters' minds is 'This is the guy that takes money from felons' that can have some traction,'' said Kevin Wagner, an assistant professor of American Government at Florida Atlantic University.

Comments

[True Dem]

You have to be kidding!

David Collins, a bailbondsman and twice convicted felon, contributed $17,500 to an ECO that supported Israel in the primary -- an ECO to which Israel's campaign manager donated $5,000.

The Israel campaign has got some real chutzbah.