OCALA (AP) — Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer is under criminal investigation after an audit found he awarded himself and his executive director a fundraising contract that paid them about $200,000.

Greer, who was Gov. Charlie Crist’s choice to run the party, owned a 60-percent share of a corporation set up to raise money for the party. Executive director Delmar Johnson owned the other 40 percent of the corporation, which received a 10-percent commission on money raised for the party, the audit found.

Party Chairman John Thrasher released a statement saying he was told that the party may have been the victim of illegal activity after the audit discovered Greer and Johnson's role in the corporation. The case was referred to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Greer resigned under pressure in February after questions emerged about lavish party spending, including thousands of dollars in meals and $15,000 to charter a jet to U.S. Sen. George LeMieux's swearing-in ceremony, according to published reports.

Greer would not immediately comment on the investigation.