A Florida official was dismissed after accusations surfaced that he cashed a $20,000 lottery ticket belonging to his employee. This event follows three years after his wife stepped down from her role as police chief amid allegations of abusing her authority to avoid a traffic violation for him.

The Tampa Code Enforcement Director, Keith O’Connor, was removed from his position on Tuesday. This decision came after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation revealed that O’Connor allegedly conspired with Aubrey Pierce, his employee, as reported by WFLA.

It is suspected that O’Connor redeemed the lottery ticket on behalf of Pierce, a code enforcement services attendant, because Pierce was at risk of having his winnings confiscated due to overdue child support obligations.

The probe into the lottery ticket was initiated when investigators found incriminating text messages and phone records between O’Connor and Pierce. This was during an inquiry into allegations that Pierce accepted bribes to permit illegal dumping on city land.

Pierce, who commenced his employment with the city in February 2023, was apprehended in August. He faces several serious charges, including bribery as a public official, illegal disposal of hazardous waste, grand theft, and breaching Florida’s litter laws, according to court documents reviewed by The Post.

He has pleaded not guilty to the bribery and litter charges.

O’Connor was placed on paid administrative leave at the beginning of the investigation in September.

The FDLE handed over the findings of the lottery ticket investigation to prosecutors who are not filing charges against O’Connor, citing insufficient evidence for a successful prosecution, according to WFLA.

The head enforcement boss was still fired by his supervisors because of his actions.

“Our organization is built on professionalism, accountability, and integrity,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said, according to the outlet. “The community we serve expects and deserves the highest standards from all City employees, especially those in leadership positions.”

Pierce remains an employee of the city but is currently under suspension and awaiting the results of a disciplinary hearing.

He had an extensive rap sheet before he was hired by the city, including previous charges for grand theft and burglary, WFLA reported.

In 2013, he wrote a letter to a judge asking to be released from jail because of his future employment in the government.

“I have a good job waiting on me with the City of Tampa,” Pierce wrote. “Thanks to the help of Major Keith O’Connor of the Tampa Police Department.”

O’Connor’s wife, former Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor, resigned in disgrace after she unsuccessfully used her influence to get her husband out of a ticket for operating an unregistered golf cart.

The then-51-year-old flashed her badge at a Pinellas County deputy and asked to “just let us go,” according to viral bodycam footage.

Mary O’Connor served as Tampa’s police chief for 10 months before she was placed on leave and subsequently resigned.

“I never want my personal mistake to stand in the way of the progress I have made in mending relationships between the police department and the community, so for that reason, I am resigning,” her resignation letter said, according to Fox 13 News.