UPDATE: FBI search warrant lays out bribery case against Scott Maddox, Paige Carter-Smith

► See the search warrant here

Paige Carter-Smith's attorney blasts release of warrant, 'Unjustly scarred' reputations (6:50 p.m.)

Paige Carter-Smith's attorney Stephen Webster issued this statement on what they call the "improper" and "flagrant" release of the search warrant.

"The release of the application for the search warrant is scandalous and has unjustly scarred the reputations of those involved without any semblance of due process. As the agent who drafted the warrant acknowledged, the documents being subpoenaed are necessary to determine whether the Government can 'establish and prove [that a crime was committed] or, alternatively, to exclude the innocent from further suspicion.' The improper release of the application not only undermined that goal, it served to heap more unproven scrutiny on the presumptively innocent. Nonetheless, Ms. Carter-Smith has cooperated fully and will continue to do conduct herself with respect for the process and all of those involved until she is fully exonerated of any wrongdoing."

Maddox attorney weighs in: 'Slanted and biased' (5:40 p.m.)

Stephen S. Dobson, III, attorney for Scott Maddox, sent the Democrat this statement.

"We believe when the entire story is told, Scott Maddox will be vindicated. Scott has been a good and decent City Commissioner and has always put the interests of Tallahassee first and foremost. I urge everybody not to rush to judgment when only one side of the story is being told--and that is a very slanted and biased version by the FBI."

Commissioner Curtis Richardson says he would step down if he were Maddox (4:10 P.M.)

City Commissioner Curtis Richardson said he was not surprised by the revelations, reiterating his comments at last week’s City Commission meeting that “whoever did something illegal or inappropriate would be dealt with.”

“I’m happy that this is the beginning of the end,” he told the Democrat. “Whoever else is involved will come to light and the city can move forward. So many good things are happening in the city and I hate that it’s being clouded by what’s happening here.”

He stopped short of calling for Maddox to resign and saying Maddox should decide for himself if he should step down.

“But if it’s me that’s what I would do,” Richardson said.

Richardson was surprised about all the back room machinations over the Uber ordinance.

“I didn’t realize there was that much influence behind the scenes,” he said.

He remembered having discussions with Justin Day of Uber and the head of the taxicab company but never talked to Carter-Smith, he said..

► See the search warrant here

COMMISSIONER NANCY MILLER: "Nobody has me locked in" (3:30 P.M. UPDATE)

The search warrant does not mention any other public official, but a June 11, 2015, email from an Uber employee to Carter-Smith references City Commissioner Nancy Miller: “@paige, you have [Commissioner Nancy Miller] and Maddox on lock, correct?”

Miller told the Democrat she had had no prior discussion with Carter-Smith about Uber and didn’t even know she was representing the ride-sharing company.

“Nobody has me locked in,” Miller said.

When it came to the rideshare ordinance, Miller said she didn’t know how she was going to vote until she had heard from both the ride-sharing and taxicab companies at the public hearing two years ago.

“I didn’t make up my mind until I really listened and worked it out at the commission meeting,” she said.

Of the investigation into Maddox and Carter-Smith, Miller said, “None of it’s good, obviously. It’s not good for Scott, it’s not good for Paige and it’s not good for the city as a whole.”

She said it’s premature to ask for Maddox to step down.

“All of this is just a tragedy for the city, which is running pretty well under the circumstances,” Miller said.

► See the search warrant here

UNSEALED AND RE-SEALED? (3 P.M. UPDATE) The search warrant demanding communications from Apple pertaining to Commissioner Scott Maddox has been removed from the records site of the North District of Florida.

The search warrant, apparently prematurely released in error, ends with a “request for sealing” in which the agent asks Judge Gary Jones to seal the documents pertaining to the "ongoing criminal investigation."

“Accordingly there is good cause to seal these documents because their premature disclosure may seriously jeopardize that investigation.”

The Democrat called the FBI asking why the documents were online and available to the public. Shortly after they were removed.

Bureau spokesperson Amanda Videll emailed the Democrat: “We decline to comment.” She referred further questions to the U.S. Attorney’s office, which was not immediately available for comment.

► See the search warrant here

PAYMENTS ALLEGEDLY MADE TO MADDOX AND FAMILY (2:40 P.M. UPDATE)

“Financial analysis conducted to date reveals that since November, 2012, Governance has made approximately $392,000 in payments directly to Maddox or Maddox and his wife, and approximately $191,000 in payments to Maddox’s immediate family members, to include payments to credit cards owned by Governance but used by Maddox and his family members,” according to the affidavit.

FOLLOWING THE MONEY TRAIL (2:30 P.M. UPDATE):

Company One (likely Uber) paid Governance $30,000 between May and October of 2015. During that same period, Governance paid Maddox approximately $50,000, the affidavit states. This amount does not include approximately $49,000 in credit card charges to credit cards belonging to Governance for which Maddox’s son and father were the authorized users.

The debts of those cards were paid by Governance. Additionally, the affidavit states, Governance paid $20,000 in rent for a Jacksonville law firm owned by Maddox.

The Tallahassee Democrat reported on the Governance and Uber dealings in a September exclusive.

The Uber Connection: Uber mounted 11th-hour lobbying blitz at City Hall

More: Figures in FBI probe worked Uber ordinance behind the scenes

FBI ASKING APPLE TO OPEN UP ON MADDOX (2:22 P.M. UPDATE):

The search warrant seeks to require computer giant Apple to disclose communications, government records, and other information from the Apple IDs and iCloud account of Scott Maddox. The request could prove problematic as the Cupertino-based company has previously resisted requests from the government.

“In my training and experience, evidence of who was using an Apple ID and from where, and evidence related to criminal activities of the kind described above, may be found in the files and records described above, specifically text message record, to include iMessage and email communications,” wrote Special Agent Evan Hurley. “This evidence may establish the “who, what, why, when, where and how” of the criminal conduct under investigation, thus enabling the United States to establish and prove each element or, alternatively, to exclude the innocent from further suspicion.”

Check back with Tallahassee.com for updates.

CHRONICLING THE CASE

A TANGLED WEB: A look at those under the microscope of federal investigators and their connections to the city, businesses and each other.

Maddox in the middle: Adams Street players at heart of Governors Walk project, FBI probe

City gives FBI 150,000 Maddox records

Governance was focus of 2010 Miami-Dade ethics probe

What happened in Vegas? Photo emerges of Maddox with undercover FBI agents

FBI PAYMENTS TO GOVERNANCE (2:20 P.M. UPDATE):

Commissioner Scott Maddox wanted “J.B.” to be his only point of contact with undercover FBI agents because Maddox “doesn’t want to have conversations, inappropriate conversations with anybody but (J.B.)”

“When asked whether Maddox wanted to be paid, J.B. said that he does, but that the money would need to ‘run … through Governance,’” the affidavit stated.

Beginning in November 2016, undercover FBI agents made four payments of $10,000 each to Governance. Each of the checks was deposited into a Governance account. After agents began paying Governance, J.B. told the agents that once they start paying Governance, they shouldn’t stop because “Scott Maddox can kill this,” according to the affidavit.

“J.B. also stated he would no longer stay involved in the deal if the (undercover agents) stopped paying Governance,” the affidavit says.

Check back with Tallahassee.com for updates.

A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER NAMED J.B. (2:10 P.M. UPDATE)

The FBI began its investigation into “alleged corruption of local officials” in 2015, posing as real estate developers and medical marijuana entrepreneurs to “gain access to various city officials, including Maddox,” the affidavit states.

A local real estate developer referred to in the affidavit only as “J.B.” told investigators that Maddox helped gain the city’s approval for J.B.’s real estate development.

Those initials would match J.T. Burnette, whose businesses were subpoenaed from the city of Tallahassee by the FBI in June of 2017.

Check back with Tallahassee.com for updates.

SEARCH WARRANT MAKES THE CASE (1:57 P.M.)

Tallahassee Commissioner Scott Maddox and his longtime friend and business associate Page Carter-Smith are under investigation by the FBI for Mail Fraud and Bribery, according to a search warrant affidavit, apparently mistakenly left unsealed by the federal court.

The sweeping, 21-page affidavit details Maddox and Carter-Smith’s interaction with undercover FBI agents and others regarding the controversial Tallahassee City Commission vote on a ride-sharing company, apparently Uber.

The FBI investigation centers around “Governance, Inc.,” a company Maddox owned but later claimed to sell to Carter-Smith sometime between 2010 and 2012. However, according to the federal affidavit, “Maddox continued to control Governance and profit from its activities, to include lobbying activities in the City of Tallahassee, for years after the 2012 election.”

Governance has received approximately $400,000 from at least 4 businesses doing business in Tallahassee, since 2012, according to the affidavit.