PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. — A former Port Canaveral commissioner was arrested Wednesday after a bribery investigation first reported by WFTV in November.
State agents told WFTV Ralph Kennedy was trying to profit off a hotel construction deal; the hotel has never been built. The former commissioner, agents say, didn't just see it as a way to boost revenue for the Port, but personally planned to profit from it.
Kennedy crossed his arms and stormed out of the Brevard County jail after posting $10,000 bond Wednesday. A nearly year-long investigation by a statewide grand jury into public corruption indicted the former commissioner, accusing him of orchestrating a scheme to get financial kickbacks.
"There was a payout, if you will, a quid-pro-quo of, 'I brought this to you and I will get mine once it's complete,'" explained Wayne Ivey, Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
It all stems back to the Port's plans to build a new hotel. A bid was won by an unnamed Orlando contractor, but state agents say, even after the bid was won, Kennedy was able to deliver the job to a Brevard County contractor with the intent of collecting a percentage of the profit the new contractor earned.
"Where the steering came in was behind the scenes stuff not involving any of the other commissioners," Ivey explained.
Port CEO Stan Payne said he was threatened with his own job over the matter, but didn't say he was relieved by Kennedy's indictment.
"It's been a very trying year and I don't think it's relief," he said.
Kennedy resigned from the Port Commission almost one year ago. Agents say it was right after he was interrogated and admitted to striking the hotel deal.
FDLE agents wouldn't reveal who the contractors are and couldn't say whether the contractors could face criminal charges, too. They said that is still under investigation.
If convicted, Kennedy could get 10 years in prison.
WFTV
