Former Chiefland City Attorney Joey Lander has been convicted in federal court on money laundering and mail fraud charges and is awaiting sentencing in January.

Lander, who at one time was the Dixie County Commission attorney, was convicted in a scheme in connection with a vitamin company and two land developments.

At the same time he was convicted on the charges, he was ordered to give up half ownership in the Dixie County Advocate, a weekly newspaper based in Cross City, and other property he owns, leaving only a home in Carlsbad, Calif. in his possession. His wife and children reside in the home.

Lander was among five present and former Dixie County officials indicted in fall 2008 on corruption charges. All have been convicted. In separate indictments handed down at the same time two Levy County Commissioners were indicted on corruption charges and suspended from office. A third person, an economic recruiter for Levy County, was also indicted in the investigation into corruption by public officials.

Lander was the attorney for the Chiefland City Commission during some of the most tumultuous times. At the time Sunshine Baynard was mayor and Betty Walker, L.R. Hunter, John Hart and Kelby Andrews sat on the commission.

In 2002, the commission was roiled by a recall petition, lawsuits — including a successful one by the mayor over violation of the state Sunshine Law, investigation of a former police chief over missing funds and an investigation into the handing of a car donated to the police department by the Flagler Sheriff's Office, a possible disbanding of the police department, criticism of the interim police chief, and the resignation of a longtime city manager.

Lander created a controversy of his own when he informed the city commission that the city charter did not give the city police department the power to enforce state law, only city ordinances.

This resulted in the suspension of the entire and the takeover of law enforcement by Levy Sheriff Johnny Smith.