- FBI arrested Gainesville Police Detective Kelvin Mattair for tipping off drug traffickers and misusing a law enforcement database in 2026.
- Mattair, an eight-year veteran, appeared at his first hearing with a $600,000 bond and revoked passport.
- Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya and State Attorney Brian Kramer stressed the case's seriousness and upheld the department's integrity.
The FBI arrested Gainesville Police Detective Kelvin Mattair on Monday afternoon for four counts of disclosing confidential information to the suspect of an investigation and three counts of misuse of a law enforcement database, according to a Tuesday press conference.
FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Dunn said Mattair tipped off drug traffickers who were under investigation by the Gainesville Police Department (GPD). One other charge was for the unauthorized interception of an oral communication.
The FBI started the investigation in December 2025, and Dunn said the agency continues to comb through Mattair’s history for other instances of misconduct.
“Ultimately, this case is about accountability and the responsibility that comes with wearing a badge,” Dunn said. “The public expects law enforcement officers to uphold the law and protect investigations they are entrusted to support.”
Mattair, an eight-year veteran with the department, showed up to a first hearing at the downtown courthouse on Tuesday. His bond was set at $600,000 with his passport revoked.
Mattair helped start flag football matchups between GPD and Gainesville High School to establish relationships and curb youth violence. He was also involved in the Reichert House Youth Academy, with questions about how he received the position raised in 2019.
Because the investigation into Mattair is still active, officials declined to answer questions on what started the case or whether Mattair was paid for his actions.
State Attorney Brian Kramer said GPD was a partner in the investigation.
“I want to make one thing explicitly clear with regard to this situation: the Gainesville Police Department has not been under investigation in any way, shape, or form,” Kramer said.
Kramer said GPD Chief Nelson Moya and he were in complete agreement on the need to investigate and prosecute this type of case with “utmost seriousness,” calling it one of the most important that his office handles.
Moya said earning the trust of the community is something past and current leaders in the city of Gainesville and GPD have strived to accomplish. He said it’s something the department doesn’t take for granted.
He asked that the community not let the actions of one person define the “moral fortitude” of the rest of the department.
“To our community, I would say that we have shown up every day and will continue to do so with tenacity, with ethics,” Moya said. “I beg of you to judge us based on our collaborative work that we have already showcased to our community.”
Moya also addressed his staff. He said to let the hurt and betrayal of the day mean something and be a reminder of the oath that law enforcement takes.
