State Attorney candidate Chris Crowley turns himself in, accused of violating campaign laws

Patrick Riley | Naples

A candidate running to become Southwest Florida's next state attorney was arrested on a warrant Monday and turned himself in to local authorities in connection with allegations that he set up a lottery for his campaign.

Chris Crowley, 51, turned himself in to Lee County Sheriff's Office deputies about 2 p.m., according to online arrest records.

He faces third-degree felony charges of promoting a lottery and violating Florida's campaign contribution law, according to an information filed by the State Attorney's Office of the 10th Judicial Circuit, which was assigned the case by Gov. Rick Scott on June 28.

Crowley is facing the 20th Judicial Circuit's Chief Assistant State Attorney Amira Fox in the Republican primary Aug. 28. The 20th Judicial Circuit covers Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties.

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The allegations stem from a fundraiser Crowley attended June 14 at The Hut Restaurant in Fort Myers.

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The State Attorney's Office for the 20th Judicial Circuit received an anonymous tip on June 25, alleging that Crowley "promoted an illegal raffle," according to a complaint from the State Attorney's Office of the 10th Judicial Circuit, which covers Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties.

The tip to the 20th Judicial Circuit included a video of a Crowley campaign fundraising event that was live-streamed on Facebook on June 14, the complaint states.

In the video, Crowley announces a raffle for gift baskets and a 50/50 raffle, according to the complaint. The raffle tickets could be purchased for $1.

State Attorney Stephen Russell of the 20th Judicial Circuit, whose job Crowley and Fox are vying for, forwarded the case to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and requested Scott assign a different state attorney for prosecution due to a conflict of interest.

Crowley initially told FDLE investigators on June 27 that a local animal rights group offered to host a campaign fundraising event for him and explained that he received several checks from donors totaling $1,600 during the event.

"He also received $670 from a gift basket raffle," the complaint states.

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Investigators wrote in the complaint that Crowley denied having prior knowledge of the gift basket or 50/50 raffle and "only became aware when he arrived for the event."

Crowley told investigators he "wasn't 100 percent sure" if he could keep the money from the raffle, but he decided to take the money and research it later, according to the complaint.

He acknowledged to investigators that he read the candidate and campaign treasurer handbook before entering into the race for state attorney, but he said he could not find any rules prohibiting raffles.

Investigators wrote that when they searched the handbook for information regarding raffles to raise money for campaigns, they found that it was illegal.

Crowley waited six days after the fundraiser before emailing the Florida Division of Elections to ask if he could keep the $670, the complaint states. He was told he couldn't and eventually contacted a member from the animal rights group and returned the money.

According to Crowley, the money was then turned over to three animal rescues, the complaint states.

Three members of the animal rights group told investigators that Crowley had no knowledge the raffle was taking place until he arrived, according to the complaint.

During an interview with prosecutors from the 10th Judicial Circuit on July 25, Crowley said his "grassroots coordinator" advised him the day before the fundraiser that there "may be an auction," the complaint states.

Crowley told investigators the lottery was legal because the money was donated to charity, according to the complaint.

"(H)owever, the initial recipient of the money was his political campaign and not a charitable organization," investigators wrote.

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Crowley could not be reached for comment Monday. Online arrest records show he was released from custody about 5:30 p.m. Bond for each charge was listed at $5,000, records show.

Crowley previously told the Daily News in an interview that the event "started off as an auction, which is legal," but then turned out to be a raffle when he showed up.

Crowley said he "went with it," but "wasn't sure" and gave back the money once he found out he could not keep it.

"Within three hours I gave back the cash, which I never deposited," he said. "They donated it to charity."

Crowley signed a pretrial diversion agreement on Thursday, Aug. 2, which allows first-time offenders to have their charges dropped if they successfully complete the program.