VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. -- Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents arrested DeLand City Commissioner Jeffrey Hunter, who they accuse of trafficking narcotics.
- FDLE agents arrest DeLand commissioner Jeffrey Hunter
- Hunter accused of drug trafficking
- Investigators say he gave ex-girlfriend hydrocodone pills
The 59-year-old city leader is charged with the sale/delivery of hydrocodone.
Volusia County deputies found that Hunter was potentially involved with drugs when Hunter sought help from law enforcement, saying he was a victim of extortion and fraud.
According to a VCSO news release, Hunter alleged that his former girlfriend and her boyfriend Jose Santiago were blackmailing him, demanding the commissioner pay him thousands of dollars.
Santiago was later charged with extortion.
When FDLE began its investigation in Feb. 2018, agents discovered that Hunter had reportedly given his ex-girlfriend hydrocodone pills at least seven different times.
Agents also determined that Hunter left numerous voicemail messages on her phone, where he allegedly discussed the amount of pain pills he legally had.
Those who knew Hunter spoke out in outrage.
"You're supposed to be making this town better and to do that, it's just a slap in the face to us," said Sara Troxell, Hunter's neighbor.
"It's a good thing that investigation did happen. Because if it didn't, he would be doing God knows what while he was still in office," she said.
Spectrum News reached out to the Deland City Commission to find out what this will mean for Hunter and his seat, though they have yet to respond.
Hunter bonded out of Volusia County Jail on $25,000.
The State Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case.
Reporter Bailey Myers contributed to this report.