News Summary
An ongoing investigation into suspended Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill has emerged, focusing on key witness Sandra Lewis’ controversial work history and her role in Hill’s financial dealings. Evidence suggests discrepancies in Lewis’ logged hours, her involvement in the alleged misuse of a 96-year-old woman’s finances, and inconsistencies in the notarization process. As the prosecution strives to solidify its case against Hill, her defense team aims to undermine Lewis’ credibility, presenting challenges for both parties as legal proceedings progress.
Orlando – An ongoing investigation into suspended City Commissioner Regina Hill is raising concerns over the employment and testimony of key witness Sandra Lewis. Evidence suggests irregularities in Lewis’ work history and her involvement in Hill’s financial dealings, potentially impacting the criminal proceedings against Hill.
Sandra Lewis was hired in July 2024 as a temporary aide for the City of Orlando. She successfully passed a background check and impressed Commissioner Shan Rose during her interview, securing a position that paid $17 per hour. However, she was recorded entering City Hall only three times between mid-July and early August 2024. Despite having continued to clock hours and collect paychecks into early 2025, there were no further records of her presence inside the building.
Notably, 40% of Lewis’ logged hours came during weekends when City Hall was closed. Lewis shared photographs on social media featuring Rose with constituents at a holiday event; however, these did not align with the hours reflected on her timesheets. In her deposition regarding the criminal case against Hill, Lewis described her role primarily as canvassing for Hill during the last election, yet there were no official records of payments from Hill’s campaign for this work.
Lewis serves as a crucial witness for the prosecution, which is alleging that Hill exploited a 96-year-old woman’s finances, spending over $100,000 on personal items, including cosmetic procedures. Lewis’ notary stamp appeared on documents allegedly used by Hill to gain power of attorney over the elderly woman, although she has denied her involvement during a March 2024 interview. Inconsistencies in the notarization process have been pointed out by Lewis, suggesting that the documents in question would not meet her standards.
The defense team for Hill is attempting to discredit Lewis’ testimony. They claim that Lewis has been obstructive in inquiries regarding her work history and a beauty school that allegedly funded political efforts. If Lewis’ testimony is invalidated, it could present significant challenges for the prosecution, allowing Hill an opportunity to fortify her re-election campaign if found not guilty of the charges against her.
Despite the serious allegations, Hill retains a strong following within her district. Lewis has stated that she worked for Rose “one to two days” a week, earning approximately $2,000 throughout her employment. Nevertheless, the recorded hours present substantial discrepancies that could undermine her claims. City administrators indicated that campaigning during paid hours would breach city policy, although they confirm no violations have been identified in relation to Lewis’ work with Rose.
During deposition, Lewis became increasingly defensive, hampering the investigation process. The inquiry into Hill encompasses additional allegations beyond financial misconduct, including claims of mortgage fraud and the misuse of the ample credit of the elderly woman which secured a mortgage. Hill was suspended from her role after her arrest in March 2024 on accusations of elder abuse and fraud.
Investigation findings also revealed multiple discrepancies within the Power of Attorney documents, including misspelled names and altered signatures. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has flagged this document as fraudulent. Nevertheless, Lewis has asserted that she did not notarize the document and has never authorized a Power of Attorney related to any mortgage transactions.
The situation continues to develop as legal proceedings unfold, with significant implications for both Lewis and Hill. Should Lewis’ testimony be called into question or ultimately excluded from the trial, the prosecution may face considerable obstacles in proving their case against Hill.
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Additional Resources
- WFTV: Key Witness in Hill Case
- Orlando Sentinel: Regina Hill Investigation
- Click Orlando: Hearing for Regina Hill
- Google Search: Regina Hill Investigation
- MSN: Witness Refusal in Regina Hill Case
- Google Scholar: Regina Hill Case
- WFTV: Notary Claims Document Altered
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Regina Hill
