David Chiverton sentenced to 38 months in prison after bribery allegations
David Chiverton sentenced after bribery charges. Chiverton, the former city manager was sentenced to 38 months in federal prison. As well as three years of supervised release and eight months of house arrest following his release from jail. Chiverton was sentenced on Monday, after being convicted earlier this year on a charge of conspiracy to accept improper gifts or payments.
Chiverton will, however, have the chance to spend the holidays out of prison as his jail sentence begins in February, 2017.
Read More: Former Opa-locka city manager pleads guilty in corruption probe
Former Opa-Locka Assistant Public Works Director Gregory Harris, along with Chiverton, were charged in July for accepting bribes and extorting funds from residents doing business with the city over a two-year period. The charges stated the two men took advantage of their positions in the city to obtain funds in bribes from businesses and residents. And did so in exchange for city authorizations of special services like obtaining business and zoning permits, occupational licenses and restoring certain city services.
Chiverton plead guilty to the charge in September, following his resignation from the city in July.
Op Locka has had its fair share of corruption. Earlier this year, former Opa Locka Mayor, Myra Taylor and her husband were under investigation for corruption.
Read More: Opa Locka Mayor and husband under investigation for corruption
FBI monitored Chiverton for months
FBI had been clandestinely monitoring Chiverton, and other city staffers, after being alerted of rampant corruption in city hall. The FBI charged Chiverton after he was caught in a sting operation accepting bribe from an undercover FBI agent. The offer referred to issuing the business man a business occupational license illegally.
Chiverton’s sentence could be lowered over the next 90 days if prosecutors return to the judge adjudicating the case. They would need to convince him that Chiverton is cooperating with the prosecution in the continued investigations of corruption in the City of Opa-Locka.
Read More: Opa Locka millions in debt
Earlier this year, Florida Governor Rick Scott placed the city under a state-of-financial emergency among the allegations of corruption, mis-management and a deficit of $1.4 million in its operational budget. As a result of this decision, the operations of the city is being supervised by state officials.
