FDLE closes city computer investigation

A Florida law enforcement agency has closed its investigation into charges that former City Manager Robert Bartolotta’s office deleted city emails and improperly used the email archive system.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) wrote in a letter to Mayor Suzanne Atwell that there is no probable cause for criminal charges and that the investigation is closed.

“No further action is warranted,” reads the letter from John Burke, special agent with the agency. The letter dated Nov. 1 arrived at City Hall Monday, Nov. 5. 

The FDLE letter closes one chapter of the controversy surrounding the email allegations and resulting wave of scrutiny at City Hall.

While the FDLE investigation was underway, a separate cyber review was being conducted by a consultant hired by the city to look into allegations that Bartolotta and Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown had deleted or removed emails from the city’s computer archive system. That review, by The Sylint Group Inc., also looked into whether some city staffers had conducted open-ended searches of city employee emails or used the archive system unethically or illegally.

Sylint Group president John Jorgenson was expected to present his final report to the City Commission this month, but he has told city officials the report is not ready.

To view the letter, click here.