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May 4 (UPI) -- Former Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum was found not guilty on one count Thursday in a federal trial over charges of lying to the FBI. A jury could not reach a verdict in the 18 other counts against Gillum and his associate Sharon Lettman-Hicks. No verdict was reached on a single count against Lettman-Hicks.
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The two were accused of lying to the federal agency, providing false statements to commit conspiracy, and fraud.
Among the charges, Gillum was accused of accepting a $5,000 campaign contribution from an undercover FBI agent. The agent posed as a developer looking to buy property in Tallahassee while Gillum was mayor.
He then allegedly asked the agent to pay for a fundraising dinner, lodging, food, drink and entertainment for a trip to New York City.
The 12-person jury could not reach a verdict on the most serious charges, which related to misusing political campaign funds, even after the judge urged them to return a decision.
The jury started deliberating last Friday afternoon.
Prosecutors said Thursday they plan to re-try the case.
Gillum, a former Florida gubernatorial candidate was originally indicted last June on charges he wrongly accepted gifts while serving as Tallahassee mayor.
The 43-year-old served as Tallahassee mayor from 2014 to 2018 and narrowly lost the 2018 race for governor to current Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Gillum faced a maximum of five years in prison on the false statements charge.
