Florida Cop Charged With Homestead Exemption Fraud Desperate To Save Career, Pension; Looks For Plea Deal To Dodge Felony Conviction

In Key West, Florida, the Florida Keys Keynoter reports:

• A suspended Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent accused of homestead-exemption fraud is scheduled for court [...], with a pretrial conference set in anticipation of a Nov. 14 trial.



• However, Vince Weiner, 47, won't go to trial that day, said Assistant Monroe County State Attorney Mark Wilson. That's because plea talks are ongoing, and Weiner hopes to keep a felony conviction off his record so he can retain his state police certification and not lose his state retirement (convicted government employees forfeit their retirements).



• On Aug. 17, the FDLE -- his employer -- arrested the Key West-based Weiner on charges of felony grand theft and misdemeanor homestead-exemption fraud. He was immediately put on administrative leave.



• Wilson said then that Weiner bought a Big Pine Key house in 2005, then got assigned to Fort Myers in 2006. While living in Fort Myers, Weiner rented his Keys house out but claimed the homestead exemption, Wilson said.

For more, see Suspended FDLE agent seeks plea deal.