Lynn Haven Police have arrested a local man on felony charges of Official Misconduct and Fraud. Fifty-nine year old Michael Clarence Gordon was arrested in connection with a scheme wherein at least eighty-five Building Inspections were conducted in a twelve-month period by personnel acting outside the scope of their respective state licenses, effectively conducting unlicensed inspections.
These individuals worked at the direction of Gordon and these inspections were being conducted with Gordon’s full knowledge. As a result of these fraudulent inspections, Gordon and/or his company, Gordon & Associates Inspections, LLC profited financially in the amount of $12,436.84.
During this period, Gordon acted in an official capacity as the Building Inspector in and for the City of Lynn Haven.In an interview with Criminal Investigators, Inspectors working directly for Gordon admitted to having conducted the fraudulent inspections and to have done so at Gordon’s direction.
Furthermore, there was no system of checks and balances and/or re-inspections provided in those cases to ensure that the work being inspected was being done properly and/or to code. Fraudulent activities such as these deprive the citizens of this community of honest government services and undermine the faith of the citizenry in their local government.This investigation was initiated by Chief Ricky Ramie after it was learned that Gordon had received a Registered General Contractors License in Calhoun County which is the subject of an ongoing Public Corruption Investigation. It was also learned that Gordon was the subject of an Administrative Complaint to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for Failure to Inspect.
Chief Ramie would like to thank the members of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for their assistance in this important cause. This investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated. Anyone with information regarding the criminal activities of Gordon is asked to contact the Lynn Haven Police Department at (850) 265-4111.