Did The Feds Raid The Register Of Deeds Office

With a federal investigation underway, Milwaukee County will launch its own investigation into the alleged fraud activities involving the former elected register of deeds.

John La Fave announced his retirement final calendar month from the position he held since 2003.

In February, La Fave'south office was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel first reported the raid. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the FBI has subpoenaed Iowa-based Fidlar Technologies for records related to La Fave and his agency.

The bureau'due south connection with Fidlar — who has near $300,000 in contracts with Milwaukee County for 2019 — is in question, co-ordinate to the Milwaukee Periodical Spotter.

This week, the Milwaukee Canton Board's Finance and Inspect Committee voted to launch its own inspect and legal analysis of the department. The total board will vote Tuesday on launching the investigation.

"Nosotros all know something happened, but nosotros don't know everything," said County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb Sr. "At that place will be an opportunity for more to come out. I remember that the audit is a necessity for public confidence to be restored. And for the new register of deeds to have the information of how that department has been performance to exist able to kickoff with a articulate slate."

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On May 10, Gov. Tony Evers appointed long-time litigator Israel Ramón to make full out the residual of La Fave's term. The next scheduled election for the position will occur in November 2020.

Ramón is a partner and shareholder in the law firm Ramón & Medrano S.C. and a supplemental courtroom commissioner for Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

The register of deeds is responsible for records including birth and death certificates and real manor transactions.

Lipscomb said the investigation will determine if tax dollars were illegally diverted under La Fave'southward tenure. The investigation volition also answer questions of whether there may be an ongoing trouble in the Milwaukee Canton Register of Deeds Office that should be addressed, Lipscomb said.

The Milwaukee County Comptroller's Part has been working with the FBI on the investigation.

Jennifer Folliard, the county's managing director of audits, said information about the case is express so information technology makes sense for the canton to launch its own investigation.

"I certainly empathise the position (the canton) is in of wanting to know what is going on and whether there are risks there," Folliard said. "And if there are any recommendations we tin can make, we will try to pursue that."