Submitted by Susan Hardee Steger
April 29, 2014 1:31 p.m.
On April 24, in a sparsely filled courtroom, Furman Otis Clark Jr. was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Robert Foster to 20 years in prison. Clark was ordered to pay court costs and make restitution in the amount of $250,000. Clark’s sentencing followed his conviction earlier this month on one count of “organized scheme to defraud.” (Click here for previous article.)
A copy of a letter addressed to State Attorney Angela Corey from Fernandina Beach Police Chief James Hurley, was submitted to Judge Foster. Hurley detailed painstaking investigative work that brought the case forward. He commended Assistant State Attorney Steven Siegel, investigator Michael Rennie of the Bureau of Financial Investigation.
Hurley sought help from retired Fernandina Beach Police Captain Jim Coe, and retired special agent Fred Borakove a 32 year veteran of the U. S. Treasury Department. Coe and Borakove’s efforts a were commended by Hurley as well.
“As this case proves, and his criminal history clearly demonstrates, Furman Clark is a despicable person known to routinely prey on innocent victims through manipulation and manufactured relationships. He will not be missed in our community,” wrote Hurley.
In a victim’s letter to Judge Foster it was requested that Clark receive the maximum sentence.
“Mr. Clark is a proven threat to society and if he is released into the general population he knows only one thing – – – move to a small community become ingratiated into that society and take financial advantage of those he befriends.”
“Regularly attending meetings of the local rotary Club and standing and speaking the two mottoes “”Service above Self” and “One Profits Most who Serves Best” in one of the loudest voices in the room further highlights his delight in making a mockery of respected organizations and his sole intention to deceive.”
Clark was arrested in Fernandina Beach following a Rotary meeting on February 2, 2011.
In 2001, Clark’s past life was exposed in a scandalous Folio Weekly article written by Anne Schindler entitled, “The Secret Life of Furman Clark; How a convicted killer con artist reinvented himself and nearly conquered Fernandina Beach.” According to the article, Clark spent nine years in prison after pleading guilty of manslaughter for the death of Julian Singman described as a Washinton D.C. “political heavy hitter.” He was released from prison in 1996.
Copies of the letters and sentencing information were received from the Nassau County Clerk’s Office by the Fernandina Observer through a general public records request.
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