A Florida official was fired for allegedly cashing in his employee’s $20,000 winning lottery ticket — three years after his wife resigned as police chief for trying to use her position to get him out of a traffic stop.
Tampa code enforcement director Keith O’Connor was canned Tuesday following an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that found he allegedly colluded with his employee, Aubrey Pierce, according to WFLA.
O’Connor is believed to have cashed in the ticket for Pierce, a services attendant with code enforcement, because the worker was behind on child support payments and would have had the reward seized if he did it himself.
Officials began looking into the lottery ticket after they discovered text messages and phone records between the two men during an investigation into Pierce, who was accused of accepting bribes in exchange for allowing dumping on city property.
Pierce, who was hired by the city in February 2023, was arrested in August and charged with multiple felonies, including bribery by a public servant, unlawful disposal of hazardous waste, grand theft and violation of Florida litter law, according to court records viewed by The Post.
He has pleaded not guilty to the bribery and litter charges.
O’Connor was placed on paid administrative leave at the beginning of the investigation in September.
The FDLE handed over the findings of the lottery ticket investigation to prosecutors, who are not filing charges against O’Connor, citing insufficient evidence for a successful prosecution, according to WFLA.
The head enforcement boss was still fired by his supervisors because of his actions.
“Our organization is built on professionalism, accountability, and integrity,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said, according to the outlet. “The community we serve expects and deserves the highest standards from all City employees, especially those in leadership positions.”
Pierce remains an employee of the city but is currently under suspension and awaiting the results of a disciplinary hearing
He had an extensive rap sheet before he was hired by the city, including previous charges for grand theft and burglary, WFLA reported.
In 2013, he wrote a letter to a judge asking to be released from jail because of his future employment in the government.
“I have a good job waiting on me with the City of Tampa,” Pierce wrote. “Thanks to the help of Major Keith O’Connor of the Tampa Police Department.”
O’Connor’s wife, former Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor, resigned in disgrace after she unsuccessfully used her influence to get her husband out of a ticket for operating an unregistered golf cart.
