Interim Jackson County Executive Philip LeVota Indicted on Federal Bribery Charges
Interim Jackson County Executive Philip LeVota has been indicted on federal bribery charges, including honest services fraud, federal program bribery, and making false statements to federal law enforcement. LeVota, who proclaimed his innocence, is accused of offering government jobs in exchange for a county executive candidate dropping out of the race. This indictment follows a history of corruption in Jackson County, with former Executive Mike Sanders having been sentenced to prison for a kickback scheme. The county legislature cannot remove LeVota, meaning he will likely remain in office until voters elect a successor in November.