Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill, 63, has been arrested in connection to an investigation into elder exploitation and fraud, according to a release by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. A press conference detailing her charges is expected to reveal more on the shocking arrest.
Information is still developing on what Hill is accused of, but it was revealed earlier this month that she was under investigation for allegedly taking advantage of a 96-year-old woman who resides in her district in Orlando. She's alleged to have used over $100,000 out of the woman's savings account for her own personal spending.
An Orange County judge granted a temporary protective injunction against Hill in relation to that investigation, severing all contact between the two. A former aide of Hill's reportedly acted as whistleblower after they said Hill fired them for accusing her of misconduct.
Hill has been charged with three counts of exploitation of the elderly, two counts of fraud, and one each of mortgage fraud and scheme to defraud.
Hill was first elected to the Orlando City Council representing District 5 in 2014, defeating challenger Edward 'Juan' Lynum according to Ballotpedia. She won re-election in 2017 in a seven-person race, securing just over half the vote. She won for a third time in 2021, easily besting challenger Shaniqua Rose. Orlando city races are nonpartisan, but Hill is a registered Democrat.
Along with criminal prosecution, Hill may also be removed from office by Governor Ron DeSantis under certain circumstances. It's been done by DeSantis in multiple cases as it was by his immediate predecessors, Rick Scott, Charlie Crist, and Jeb Bush. Hill's situation is moving particularly close to the situations which have triggered suspensions by previous governors, and DeSantis has even invoked the power for state attorneys' spoken opposition to certain state laws.
