Commissioner Turns Tables on Possible Coercion Scheme

NORTH BAY VILLAGE, FL — Ronald Reagan was president when Douglas Hornsby got into trouble with the law in Tennessee. Some 30 years later, Hornsby thought he had put that old life behind him, earning a medical degree and a seat on his community's board of commissioners. But, in recent weeks, somebody has threatened to expose Hornsby's criminal past.

"A brave man dies one death. If you’re a coward, you die a thousand times," acknowledged Hornsby in an unusual public admission earlier this month before his fellow colleagues on the North Bay Village Board of Commissioners. "I’m standing here before my commission and my public and saying this is something anybody can go look at it. It was always there. I don’t deny it." (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Patch.)

Hornsby, a practicing physician and radiologist for more than 20 years, admitted to having a cocaine conviction. But now, he said, someone has been attempting to exploit his past in a series of troubling communications that were sent through the U.S. mail. The first was addressed only to him, but subsequent communications were addressed to both he and his wife.

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"After the last meeting, I started getting letters and threats, poison kind of letters — anonymous letters, describing how I was going to be outed," he asserted.

Hornsby called the unidentified sender's bluff and his fellow commissioners rallied to his side.

North Bay Village Commissioners not only voted unanimously to reappoint Hornsby to the commission, they also affirmed the votes he had taken since becoming a commissioner.

North Bay Police Chief Carlos Noriega announced this week that he had opened an investigation into the incident.

"The preliminary investigation conducted, to include statements, evidence collection and various other investigative actions, has already produced significant and valuable information. As a result of these initial findings, as well as the extremely serious nature of these criminal allegations, outside law enforcement public corruption entities have been contacted for assistance," Noriega said a statement. "This criminal investigation will continue to proceed swiftly and aggressively with the unwavering intent to hold the responsible individual(s) accountable for the criminal actions taken against the aforementioned elected North Bay Village official and his wife."

Village Attorney, Robert Switkes said he considered the communications to be possible violations of state and federal laws, including the Hobbs Act. He said that he asked the FBI to investigate and has also reached out to Florida election officials.

"I can’t tell you how troubling and offensive I found the communication that I read," he said. "And, I’ve only seen the first one. I can’t conceive of anybody stooping as low as trying to intimidate a sitting commissioner by an act that happened almost 30 years ago."

Community members who attended the meeting where Hornsby made his admission, also showed their support for the doctor.

"It’s good you stepped on the blackmailer," said one resident. "They are the worst kinds of bullies."

Hornsby said that he did not know what the person who contacted him was attempting to accomplish. "This is somebody outside that’s doing this to get either on the commission or get me off the commission — or get me to vote another way," he added. "They don’t obviously know me very well."

Commissioner Douglas N. Hornsby courtesy of North Bay Village