DeSantis suspends Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill following felony arrest

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Monday suspending Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill after she was indicted on seven felony charges relating to alleged fraud of an elderly citizen.

On March 27, Hill was indicted on three counts of exploitation of elderly person or disabled person greater than $50,000, one count of scheme to defraud of $50,000 or more, one count of fraudulent use of personal identification over $100,000, and one count of mortgage fraud greater than $100,000, and fraudulent use of personal identification (parent/guardian/custodian).

FDLE Assistant Commissioner Lee Massie told reporters Hill “betrayed the trust of her community by taking advantage of a 96-year-old elderly citizen.”

Hill said she will “prove her innocence” in a statement reported by ClickOrlando.

She was arrested last week and bonded out of jail for $40,000, per local station ClickOrlando.

The special agent in charge of the investigation publicly said that Hill knew the victim “because of her position as a city commissioner,” according to the order.

Hill was “able to lend what appeared to be some benefit services that then turned into the acts’ giving rise to the indictment and agreed that Regina Hill used her position as a city commissioner to her own advantage.”

According to Florida’s constitution, the governor may suspend Hill from office “until acquitted and the office filled by appointment for the period of suspension, not to extend beyond the term, unless these powers are vested elsewhere by law or the municipal charter.”

Hill is prohibited from performing any official acts or functions of her public office according to the filing. In addition, she will receive any pay from the city during the suspension period.

Hill was indicted in the Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial Circuit in and for Orange County.