The HCSO scandal erupted in mid-2025 when an internal investigation revealed that six top officials had outsourced academic assignments to an outside individual, Robert Roush, for coursework related to leadership training, including programs at the FBI National Academy and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.Key departures confirmed by Sheriff Chad Chronister in October 2025:

• Chief Deputy Anthony Collins — Resigned in late July 2025 after admitting to receiving assistance on FBI National Academy papers.
• Colonel Michael Hannaford and Colonel Christopher Rule — Resigned on October 17, 2025.
• Captain Lora Rivera — Resigned in October 2025 after allegations of paying for assistance on a captain’s project.
• Captain Zuleydis Stearns — Terminated on October 22, 2025.
• Captain Marvin Johnson — Terminated earlier (noted in some reports as part of the probe).

Sheriff Chronister described the actions as “lapses in judgment” but emphasized that the involved officers “paid with their careers.” The internal probe, triggered by a tip from Collins’ wife, found no criminal violations, and Chronister defended the officials as dedicated public servants.The complaint lists these six, plus a seventh: Major James Jackson, who reportedly retired in 2025 amid separate allegations of illegal payments, gifts, and double-dipping (simultaneous on-duty and off-duty employment).

The complaint highlights significant costs already borne by taxpayers, all potentially subject to clawback:

• Fraudulent salary increases of $2,000–$3,000 annually per individual tied to bogus credentials.
• Employer FRS contributions at rates around 31.79% (Special Risk class) or 28.98% (Senior Management), plus DROP accruals.
• Annual Health Insurance Subsidy of approximately $2,700 per person.
• For Captain Marvin Johnson, a projected DROP payout of over $830,000, with $181,385 already deposited.

Demands for Broader Investigation

Cartwright criticizes Sheriff Chronister’s probe as “deliberately limited” to agency emails, ignoring private communications and third-party services. The complaint calls for the Florida Retirement System (FRS) to:

1. Subpoena records of all HCSO employees who received pay increases, promotions, or incentives based on post-2015 degrees/certifications.
2. Interview them under oath about outside assistance.
3. Expand to a six-year review (2019–2025) of overlapping duty and off-duty hours, correcting records and recovering contributions on fraudulent hours.

Additional relief sought includes public hearings, pension recalculations, criminal referrals to FDLE and State Attorney Suzy Lopez, and repayment of fraudulent salaries from terminal pay.