Fact Check: "In 2019, Ivey was named in a federal indictment for accepting $15,500 in checks to Brevard County charities from Donald Donagher."
What We Know
In March 2019, Donald Donagher Jr., a debt collector, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and multiple counts of federal program bribery. The indictment detailed that Donagher had made donations totaling approximately $15,500 to various Brevard County charities, which included funds directed towards programs overseen by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey (Florida Today, Volusia Exposed). However, the indictment does not indicate that Sheriff Ivey was charged with any wrongdoing or named as a co-conspirator; rather, it describes how Donagher used donations as part of his attempts to influence court clerks in Florida (United States District Court).
Analysis
The claim that Sheriff Wayne Ivey was named in a federal indictment for accepting checks from Donald Donagher is misleading. While it is true that Donagher made donations to charities associated with Ivey, the indictment itself does not implicate Ivey in any criminal activity. The indictment focuses solely on Donagher's actions and his attempts to bribe court clerks, with no charges against Ivey or any indication that he accepted bribes (Florida Today, Volusia Exposed).
Furthermore, credible sources such as the U.S. District Court and major news outlets confirm that the focus of the indictment was on Donagher's attempts to influence public officials through charitable donations, not on any wrongdoing by Ivey (United States District Court, Florida Today).
In summary, while the donations were made to charities linked to Ivey, the claim that he was named in an indictment for accepting these checks is not supported by the evidence. The sources do not indicate any legal action taken against Ivey, and the narrative presented in the claim misrepresents the facts surrounding the indictment.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The assertion that Sheriff Wayne Ivey was named in a federal indictment for accepting checks from Donald Donagher is inaccurate. The indictment pertains solely to Donagher's actions and does not include any charges against Ivey. The evidence indicates that while Donagher made charitable donations, there is no implication of wrongdoing by Ivey in the context of the indictment.
