Tallahassee, FL — October 8, 2025 — The Florida Commission on Ethics has determined there is probable cause to believe former Brevard County Commissioner Bryan Lober misused his public office to secure personal benefits through improper county credit card expenditures, according to documents released in an ongoing investigation. The ruling, dated April 3, 2025, escalates the case to a public hearing, where Lober could face penalties ranging from a public reprimand to fines. He could have faced removal from office if violations are confirmed had he not already resigned when the investigation was underway.
The probe stems from a referral by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) on July 31, 2024, which alleged Lober violated Florida Statute 112.313(6)—prohibiting public officers from using their position to secure special privileges or exemptions—and Article II, Section 8(h)(2) of the Florida Constitution, which bars officials from obtaining disproportionate benefits. Specifically, investigators focused on Lober’s use of a county-issued purchasing card for transactions totaling over $40,000, including personal items like office chairs, Amazon purchases, and other goods not tied to official duties.
FDLE’s investigative summary, detailed in a 73-page report, highlighted discrepancies in Lober’s spending from 2021 to 2023. Auditors from the Brevard County Comptroller’s Office flagged three personal purchases on pages 4-6 of the report, such as items bought for home use, which Lober allegedly tried to reimbursed partially. The report also scrutinized an Amazon Prime Business account linked to Lober’s office, used for what investigators called “obvious business purposes” that benefited him personally, including disaster relief supplies that could have been repurposed privately.
