 While in prison , Cox mailed several letters to the St. Petersburg Times in 2008 in which he accused politician Kevin White of taking bribes from him during Cox 's criminal career . He claims he made payoffs to White , who was then a Tampa City Council candidate , in 2002 and 2003 . Cox said White told him he could not receive the money directly , so he should have his friends each donate $ 500 and then reimburse them . Records and statements from those who donated show that Cox did in fact make numerous contributions to White 's campaign , and reimbursed others who did so as well . White , he claims , agreed to vote to rezone vacant properties in Tampa and Ybor City . When Cox was first arrested the FBI talked to him about White , who they were also investigating , and he told them the same information . He claimed to have paid him $ 7 @,@ 000 in cash in addition to the recorded contributions he arranged . When White and a fellow City Council member were told Cox 's contributions might have been illegal in 2004 , his colleague told the police , while White kept silent . White has denied that he knew these contributions were reimbursed , and called Cox 's accusations " the jailhouse ramblings of a reputed con man . " White said he befriended Cox when he came to believe the con man was interested in revitalizing Tampa Heights . Cox fled the Tampa area before White cast any rezoning votes , so there is no voting record which could help confirm the validity of his accusations . 
