TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. — A city of Temple Terrace official was arrested Monday for bribery and misconduct after investigators say he gave "insider information" to a friend for a bid in exchange for a discount on work at his home.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Tampa Bay Special Agent in Charge Mark Bruttnell says the investigation dates back to August 2021. At the time, the city had received a complaint regarding an unlicensed contractor being hired to complete renovations at a racquetball court at the Family Recreation Complex.
The complaint came across Mayor Andy Ross' desk and was "immediately" sent to the FDLE for further investigation.
Agents say it turns out the city's Director of Community Development, 54-year-old Amir Anisi, influenced competitive solicitation for concrete work at the court by giving non-public information to a vendor who was a friend of his.
According to the FDLE, Anisi, who oversaw planning and development and building and zoning for the city, told the friend the estimated price range the city was considering for the work.
“With this information, [Anisi’s] friend submitted his bid under that estimate, ensuring that his company would win the bid," Bruttnell said.
Anisi also hired the same vendor for a project at his home and expected a reduction in the price for the work.
“Public servants with privileged information must go above and beyond to ensure impartiality. Most importantly, public servants must always remember who they serve. Those who serve themselves must be held accountable," Bruttnell said.
Anisi faces charges from the FDLE of unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior and official misconduct for falsifying records.
Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren says both of the charged crimes are felonies but that given Anisi's lack of criminal history he will likely not have a prison recommendation per state guidelines.
“The evidence shows that this wasn’t just a case of a city employee wanting to help the city save money. This is a city employee tainting the fairness of the process and wanting to get something in return for his position and authority. That is corruption," Warren said.
The state attorney adds that while this case is "not the fraud of the century," it still matters to ensure the public's trust.
“At its core, our democracy is based on trust. Trust between the government and its people. So, when somebody chips away at that trust we have to step up and set things right," he said.
Moving forward Mayor Ross says the city will work to determine what steps, if any, need to be taken to prevent acts like this from happening again. The city of Temple Terrace will also review its current policies and procedures.
Ross also said he wants to ensure the public that the city will not tolerate Anisi's type of behavior and will continue to demand transparency from its employees.
“While I’m obviously very disappointed in the actions of Mr. Anisi I’d like to quickly point out that these are the actions of one employee. The city of Temple Terrace has hundreds of employees who serve the public with honor and integrity day in and day out. The actions of one individual do not diminish the culture of excellence that our employees are known for," he said.
You can watch the entire press conference below.