If Commissioner Regina Hill is Convicted, She Faces 180 Years in Prison
“People of course are innocent until proven guilty,” says Jonathan Blount. “Everything I have heard so far, there is no way she is going to be able to escape accountability and culpability. There are a number of allegations over time were very negative comments about her, things she has been involved in.”
Commissioner Hill has been in office for eleven years, and there have always been embarrassing incidents and moments where she behaved as an individual who had a history of drinking too much alcohol. There have always been allegations that her sons were involved in selling drugs.
So, on March 28, 2024, many of the neighbors were not shocked or surprised with the commissioner having another run-in with the law. This has been a developing story, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been investigating the commissioner for over a year.
This story started in 2021, and it appears that commissioner Hill was well aware that a 96 year old lady in her district was sitting on a fat bank account. Somehow the commissioner became her power of attorney, and she betrayed the elder lady’s trust. Instead of improving the lady’s house and life, the commissioner bought a home for herself.
Commissioner Hill also bought expensive clothes, a facelift, vacations, rental cars, doctor visits, and car insurance. The commissioner’s job is to improve the quality of life for their constituents, but Ms Hill appeared to be taking advantage of the lady’s life saving.
Ms Hill has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1980s which includes drugs and public intoxication.
Based on a year of investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has made the decision to charge Ms Hill with 7 criminal counts. There are three counts of exploitation of the elderly, one count of scheme to defraud, two counts of frequent use of another personal ID, and one count of mortgage fraud.
There is $100,000 that has disappeared once Commissioner Hill got involved with this elderly lady as power of attorney. There is also $10,000 that has been charged on credit cards, and it appears she was a gift that kept giving to the commissioner.
At this point, only the governor has the power to remove a municipal officer from office, and everyone is waiting. The governor is waiting on the grand jury, and it appears the commissioner is ready to fight, because she said she did nothing wrong.
“It is unfortunate that I have been thrust into these circumstances with these allegations. Unfortunate not just for me, but for the victim whom I’ve loved and, cared for like my own family. I will wait for my day in court to prove my innocence,” says Commissioner Hill.
As everyone waits for the governor to take action, Mayor Dyer is starting to organize a special election for District 5 in 45 days. A statement released by a spokesperson from Mayor Buddy Dyer’s office said, “We have been made aware that Commissioner Hill has been arrested and charged by FDLE. We do not have any authority to discipline an elected official, including suspending them from office, as that power lies with the Governor.”
Commissioner Hill is in a hot mess.