As Milton's longest-serving former mayor awaits sentencing on federal wire fraud and tax evasion charges, the city that once held him up as a pillar of the community is reeling from the news that Guy Thompson embezzled more than $650,000 that should have gone to charity.

Thompson, 65, pleaded guilty Thursday to 20 counts of wire fraud and three counts of tax evasion. The charges stem from an FBI investigation that uncovered how Thompson used his position as executive director of United Way of Santa Rosa County to funnel donation checks into his own personal bank account from 2011 to 2018.

Thompson served Milton as a city councilman from 1978 to 1994, and as mayor from 1994 to 2014. The Milton Community Center was renamed after him in 2015, to honor him for his service to the community.

The Milton City Council will discuss at tonight's meeting whether to rename the community center in light of Thompson's guilty plea.

“The question will be whether to rename the community center, and (the council) will discuss what it should be named,” Milton Mayor Heather Lindsay said Monday. “Its prior name was the Milton Community Center. The Milton Community Center was built from grants generated by taxpayer dollars, it belongs to the community and I believe the simplest thing to do ... is just to return its name to the Milton Community Center.”

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Lindsay served on the United Way of Santa Rosa County board with Thompson for nearly four years, from 2014 to 2018, and said learning of his secret dealings was like a "punch to the gut."

"To experience this as a community is a terrible blow," Lindsay said. "Not just to those of us who trusted him within the city itself (and) city government, but more importantly all of the vulnerable people in Santa Rosa County who are depending on that help. They’re continuing to suffer because now there is no vehicle available for them to receive the funding that he used to enrich himself."

Lindsay said that since Thompson was serving as mayor for a portion of the time he was embezzling money from United Way, there could be a city forensic audit if Milton residents demand it. She said several internal controls within the city are in place and were in place during the time Thompson served as mayor and councilman, and it's unlikely he would have had the same access to city finances as he did with the United Way of Santa Rosa County finances.

Milton reacts to Thompson's plea

While those in city government continue to try to distance themselves from Thompson, Thompson's crimes are the buzz among Milton residents.

Donny Lest, a lifelong Milton resident who said his family is friends with the Thompson family, said Monday he was disappointed in the former mayor's actions and anticipated more corruption would come to light in the coming months.

"I mean, I personally used to look up to the man," Lest said. "I went to church with him, and I'm politically active. I thought it was the coolest thing that I knew him. I grew up and wanted to be like him. A lot of people like myself just couldn't believe that he would do such a thing, and I think this is going to have an impact on the city of Milton for years to come."

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During a Five Crowns card game at the Guy Thompson Community Center on Monday, Milton resident John Feeser chalked up Thompson's crimes to being a "politician."

"Anytime you steal is bad news," Feeser said. "I mean, it doesn't matter if you steal a loaf of bread or $100,000. If you steal, you steal. That's politicians for you, I guess."

Another room over in the community center, Paul and Martha Lanham were getting ready for their weekly bridge club meeting. Paul Lanham said he used to be a member of the West Florida Railroad Museum in Milton and would attend weekly club meetings with Thompson.

"He did something right in the beginning," Paul Lanham said, referring to Thompson's early years in office. "And then he dipped his hand in the cookie jar."

Mary Louise Bone, another bridge player, said she supported renaming the community center, and had an idea for people it shouldn't be named after.

"I think the whole Thompson thing is very sad," she said. "But the lesson here is, don't name things after politicians."

Annie Blanks can be reached at ablanks@pnj.com or 850-435-8632.