News

FDLE arrests Walton County Schools consultant for bid tampering

 

For Immediate Release
October 21, 2019

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla. – Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Office of Executive Investigations arrested John Bradley Hoard, 49, for bid tampering.  Agents began their case last October at the request of the Florida Department of Education and Walton County Schools Superintendent Russell Hughes.   
 
Hoard was the school board’s contracted insurance consultant and also the managing partner of an insurance sales company, which submitted a bid for the Walton County Schools telemedicine services insurance contract.
 
Investigators believe Hoard used his position as a paid consultant to learn details of a telemedicine services competing bid and then changed his company’s bid after the bidding deadline.  Hoard’s bid ultimately won the contract, allowing him to profit by receiving commission from every employee who requested the telemedicine services, around $1,000 a month. 
 
Hoard was arrested today and booked into the Leon County Jail. The Office of the State Attorney, 2st Judicial Circuit will prosecute this case.
 
For Further Information Contact:
Gretl Plessinger, Jessica Cary or Jeremy Burns
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001
 
 

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Priorities

FDLE is composed of five areas: Executive Direction and Business Support, Criminal Investigations and Forensic Science, Criminal Justice Information, Criminal Justice Professionalism and Florida Capitol Police. FDLE’s duties, responsibilities and procedures are mandated through Chapter 943, FS, and Chapter 11, FAC. To learn more about these areas, read our Statement of Agency Organization and Operation or visit our Open Government page.