Pearson examined by FDLE days before SLC sheriff's 'surprise' pick

Lina Portman4 weeks ago

5 4 minutes read

I wish I could say I'm surprised, but I'm not.

Documents released this week by Gov. Ron DeSantis' office to TCPalm confirm what I and others have long suspected about the appointment of Keith Pearson as St. Lucie County sheriff.

This is not an impulsive decision, made in haste after Ken Mascara's (seemingly) abrupt announcement on December 1 that he would retire at the end of the same day.

Instead, the governor's records clearly show that Pearson's nomination was carefully planned days, if not weeks, before the official announcement. And the paper trail, public records provided by the governor's office about six months after TCPalm requested them, appears to have begun just after a family politically connected to Pearson made generous donations to DeSantis' then-active presidential campaign.

The timing doesn't seem to be a coincidence

Neither the governor's staff nor Pearson responded to requests for comment, but the documents tell a pretty interesting story.

Among more than 7,000 pages provided by the governor's office to TCPalm is a Nov. 21 email from what appears to be the personal email account of Alex Kelly, DeSantis' then-acting chief of staff, to his government email account. The file Kelly was uploading was titled “Keith Pearson Awards and Recognition.PDF”

It was the day after several members of the DiFrancesco family made generous contributions to the DeSantis campaign and two political action committees supporting the campaign.

According to Federal Election Commission records, Anthony, Carol, Michael, Patrick and Steven DiFrancesco each contributed $6,600 – the maximum allowed – to DeSantis' campaign on November 20. Each of the five, listed as Florida residents, also donated $5,000 to Great American Comeback and $11,600 to Team DeSantis, both PACs.

The only exception was Steven DiFrancesco, who was listed as having contributed $12,600 to Team DeSantis, instead of the $11,600 donated by the other four.

Anthony “Tony” DiFrancesco is a Fort Pierce businessman, a convicted felon whom DeSantis pardoned earlier that year, and a political ally of Pearson.

On November 15, less than a week before DiFrancesco's donations to DeSantis and the PACs, Anthony DiFrancesco hosted a fundraiser for DeSantis' presidential campaign at the Missionary Flights International headquarters, located at the Treasure Coast International Airport in Fort Pierce.

The DiFrancescos and businesses with family members listed as registered officers or agents also made generous contributions to Pearson's campaign for sheriff, according to St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections Office records .

Governor receives input, then Pearson is examined

More:St. Lucie Sheriff Not Transparent About Private Fundraising, Campaign Contributions, Criminal Ties

More:Erratic conduct by Sheriff Keith Pearson and his allies could harm Gov. Ron DeSantis' political career

More:How St. Lucia Republicans could find themselves stuck with Keith Pearson as their candidate for sheriff

Pearson attended the Nov. 15 fundraiser and had his photo taken with the governor and Jarret Romanello, executive director of the St. Lucie Sheriff's Police Athletic League.

Days after the DiFrancesco campaign's fundraising and donations, DeSantis' staff began preparing for Pearson's nomination.

A Nov. 27 email from the governor's appointments office asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement if a background check on Pearson could be completed “by the end of the day tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 28.”

Later, on November 27, an email from Sheri Taylor, senior supervisor of criminal intelligence analysts for the FDLE, confirmed that the background check had been completed.

On November 29, Chelsea Aaron, the governor's appointments director, sent an email to Carter Hull, deputy appointments director, with a question regarding some language in Pearson's biography.

Also on November 29, the governor's communications team had prepared a draft press release announcing Pearson as the new sheriff of St. Lucie County. This draft release included the same language for Pearson's biography that was part of the official press release distributed to media on December 1.

In his resignation letter to the governor dated Dec. 1, Mascara made no mention of prior conversations the two men had about the transition. From the way the letter was worded, it did not appear that Mascara knew who his successor would be.

“Whoever you appoint as the next sheriff of St. Lucie County, you have my commitment to a smooth transition so that the next sheriff continues to successfully serve our citizens,” Mascara wrote.

A surprise choice? Let's be realistic

The press release sent by DeSantis on December 1 also does not acknowledge that the transition was planned.

“Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was informed of the retirement of Sheriff Ken Mascara effective at the close of business on December 1, 2023,” the statement said. “To ensure law enforcement operations continue without delay, the Governor announced the appointment of Keith Pearson as St. Lucie County Sheriff.”

This account was followed by a brief biography on Pearson.

In an interview the day after his nomination was announced, Pearson told TCPalm reporter Melissa Holsman that he had little warning that the governor was considering choosing him.

“I received a phone call about 30 minutes before the press release came out that the governor had trusted me to lead St. Lucie County,” Pearson said the next day. “And since then it’s been very, very rewarding and exciting.” »

It is ridiculous to suggest that the governor's staff looked at Pearson's credentials and requested a background check without bothering to ask him if he would be interested in taking the job.

But, according to some emails DeSantis received after the nomination, he didn't vet Pearson closely enough.

Among the documents we obtained were emails from numerous people who wrote to DeSantis to suggest he had made a bad decision, calling into question Pearson's integrity and fitness to lead the department. More than one alleged Pearson had to be removed from a position he previously held in the sheriff's narcotics unit because questions arose about his credibility when he took the case to court.

There were other allegations in the protest emails and letters, including that Pearson filed a lawsuit against a paint company on false grounds and that he also removed a dirt bike from the showroom. sheriff's evidence for his son's use, then sold it to a man. In Miami.

There is no evidence in correspondence files that any of these allegations made against Pearson were investigated by the governor's staff.

Does DeSantis care if Pearson's allegations are true?

Overall, just a quick review of the records suggests that DeSantis and Pearson have some explaining to do.

The story that Pearson's appointment was a surprise reaction to Mascara's departure doesn't pass the smell test. In truth, this has never been the case. The idea that Pearson rose from a middle management position at the sheriff's office to a leadership position also has nothing to do with the political contributions the governor received.

Lina Portman

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