Tallahassee insurance exec charged with bid tampering

October 21, 2019

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla. (WCTV) -- The president of a Tallahassee insurance consulting group faces charges of bid tampering.

FDLE arrested 49-year-old John Bradley Hoard Monday.

Agents said they began their case about a year ago after receiving a request from the Florida Department of Education and Walton County schools superintendent Russell Hughes.

FDLE says Hoard was the Walton County school board's contracted insurance consultant and submitted a bid for the Walton County Schools tele-medicine services insurance contract.

Investigators believe Hoard learned details of the services competing for the bid and then changed his company's bid after the deadline.

Law Enforcement said he eventually won the contract, which allowed him to profit and receive commission.

According to the company website, Hoard is President of Employee Benefits Consultants, Inc., a subsidiary of U.S. Employee Benefits Service Group.

He is a Florida State University graduate who has worked in the insurance industry since 1994, the website says.

Hoard was booked into the Leon County Jail and is now free on a $10,000 bond.