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LAKELAND - State Department of Citrus officials failed to reimburse a Brazilian company for their trip on a corporate aircraft until one was questioned about the travel during a legislative hearing 21/2 years after the flight.
Although a state law requires reimbursement, Bob Crawford, department executive director, and Buddy Kemper, a Florida Citrus Commission member, didn't pay until Feb. 20 for the Aug. 31, 2001, flight, the Ledger reported.
Crawford was questioned Feb. 19 during a joint meeting of the Florida Senate and House agriculture committees about the flight on an airplane provided by Cutrale Citrus Juices of Brazil.
The next day, Crawford and Kemper each wrote two checks for $96 to reimburse Cutrale for the flight for themselves and their wives from a citrus-growing region in northern Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro. The Brazil trip was a way to learn more about that country's citrus industry.
Crawford also acknowledged he had not reimbursed Ben Hill Griffin Inc. of Frostproof for a March 2001 helicopter flight from Bartow to Vero Beach for a reception with Gov. Jeb Bush.
On Feb. 25, he wrote a check for $27.55 for the 95-mile trip between the two cities.
State law requires that the employee or the department reimburse the owner of a private aircraft at the cheapest available commercial rate.
Crawford's use of private aircraft also was an issue in 1991, when the State Attorney's Office in Tallahassee indicted him and other state officials for failure to disclose contributions received by an elected public officer, a second-degree misdemeanor.
Crawford, indicted on two counts for failing to report trips to Mexico and a Georgia hunting preserve he received in 1988 while a state senator, pleaded no contest.