Fort Myers seeks to shield officials from ‘Lake Boyz’ subpoenas

Published: Updated:

FORT MYERS, Fla. City Attorney Grant Alley is filing a protective order in hopes of shielding City Manager Saeed Kazemi and Mayor Randy Henderson from subpoenas in the case of an accused “Lake Boyz” gang member.

Kazemi, Henderson, Fort Myers Police Chief Derrick Diggs and several others were handed subpoenas Wednesday night during a community forum at Dunbar High School meant to address concerns about the city’s unsolved murders.

All were called to appear in the trial of Jonathan Griffin, 21, one of more than 20 alleged “Lake Boyz” members facingĀ charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal law commonly known as RICO. That trial is set to begin April 10.

Sawyer Smith, an attorney for the Wilbur Smith Law Firm representing Griffin, believes the officials called to testify have information that could support his client’s case.Ā Smith also plans to subpoena the entire City Council.

“We know they’ve been debriefed on a significant number of issues, and City Hall and FMPD have denied that there’s gang activity in the city of Fort Myers, but yet they’ve got my client charged with a RICO offense,” Smith said.

Kazemi said he’s unfamiliar with Griffin’s case.

“I have no idea,” he said. “I don’t even know the defendant.”

Among those subpoenaed isĀ Robert O’Neill, who co-conducted an audit highly critical of the Fort Myers Police Department forĀ Freeh Group International Solutions LLC., a Delaware-based risk management firm hired by the city.

O’Neill echoed Kazemi, saying he has no idea about the case and doesn’t know who Griffin is. But Smith is betting O’Neill knows something pertinent.

“With the freeh group working with the City of Fort Myers and the City Council, chances are they have information that can help my client, and I will get that information.”

 

Copyright Ā©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.