State Rep. Reggie Fullwood pleads guilty in federal wire fraud case, drops out of race

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A state representative from Jacksonville has pleaded guilty in the federal wire fraud case facing him.

Democratic State Representative Reggie Fullwood was indicted in April on ten counts of wire fraud and four counts of failing to file federal income tax returns. He is accused of using more than $65,000 in campaign donations for personal expenses instead, including trips to grocery stores, liquor stores, and ATMs.

In federal court Thursday, Fullwood pled to two charges; one count of wire fraud and one count of failure to file and income tax return. The judge accepted those pleas and adjudicated Fullwood guilty. He was set to go to trial in October.

Fullwood previously tried to get the wire fraud counts dismissed, claiming that there were no true victims in the case because donors give up their rights to the money when they hand it over, so they do not lose anything if he decides to spend it elsewhere. He further claimed that, if the charges were true, they would be state elections violations and not federal charges.

A judge dismissed these claims, saying that couldn’t be proven ahead of trial. Prosecutors argued donors are duped if they give over money while believing it will be used for a campaign when it’s not.

Fullwood will be sentenced January 9. The wire fraud count brings up to 20 years and the failure to file charge could bring 1 year, although the court will consider many factors to influence that.

He recently won a Democratic primary in a bid to be reelected to his seat. The head of the Duval Democratic Party confirms to WOKV that they will choose a candidate to replace him in the campaign, as this plea excludes Fullwood from holding public office. We’re told the local and state party will likely issue a statement in the near future regarding the guilty plea and path forward.

The replacement candidate will run against Pastor Mark Griffin.

On Friday afternoon, Fullwood tweeted "I have officially filed a letter with the FL Sec. of State @KenDetzner and am no longer a candidate for FL House District 13."

Cox Media Group