Exclusive: Reimbursement ordered after records reveal taxpayer dollars flowed to Fort Myers councilmember's company

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — A company formerly owned by Fort Myers Councilmember Liston Bochette was ordered to repay the city thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded payments for services he benefitted from while serving on the council, records obtained exclusively by WINK Investigates reveal.

City records and Florida business filings show Councilmember Bochette was listed as a registered agent and manager of Pixie Dust Productions LLC when the company received a total of $4,800 from the city during fiscal year 2025 and 2026.

Invoice records show payments were made to the company for "social media management" services associated with Ward 4, which Bochette represents, citing labor which consisted of, "generating content ideas and topics, taking photographs, publishing posts, and building a new follower base for the social media accounts."

Each month, Pixie Dust Productions LLC charged the city $480 for the services, invoice records reveal. 

Invoices sent to the city from the company reference multiple social media pages, all of which are affiliated with Councilmember Bochette.

WINK Investigates requested an interview with Councilmember Bochette at least four times via email and text between Friday and Monday.

A spokesperson for Councilmember Bochette's office said on Monday he was out of town and unavailable for immediate comment. 

A spokesperson for the councilmember's office referred WINK Investigates to the city's Public Information Office for comment. That office, on Friday, referred us to Bochette's team.

Following a review of the payments, city officials later required full reimbursement of the funds, according to a city spokesperson. 

"The city required and obtained full reimbursement of all payments made to Pixie Dust Productions," a city spokesperson said in an email. "The Councilperson assisted with the reimbursement process." 

A city spokesperson confirmed reimbursement was made on May 7th, three days after WINK Investigates filed a public records request for city payment records, invoices, and emails.

"No further action was taken, as the matter was resolved," a spokesperson stated in-part in an email.

The City of Fort Myers Records Department told WINK Investigates Pixie Dust Productions LLC received $2,400 from the city during fiscal year 2025 and $2,880 during fiscal year 2026. The city's records department confirmed no payments were made prior to fiscal year 2025.

Business filings reveal the company filed for organization in May 2025, with Bochette listed as the registered agent at the time. On April 30, an amended business filing removed Bochette from company records and now lists Margriet de Schutter as the company's sole manager and registered agent.

WINK Investigates has not independently verified the nature of the relationship between Bochette and de Schutter. We contacted de Schutter via email for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

WINK Investigates also called Pixie Dust Production LLC's to request an on-camera interview, but did not hear back.

Emails obtained through public records show de Schutter communicated with city staff regarding payments made to Pixie Dust Productions LLC, including a request to reissue a check after one could not be located. Bochette was CC'd in some of that correspondence, records show. 

In an email, a city spokesperson said in-part, "the Financial Services Department was not previously aware of any connection," between Bochette and Pixie Dust Productions LLC when the payments were approved.

A city spokesperson confirmed in an email that no other councilmembers use outside vendors or consultants for social media management or public relations services funded by the city and taxpayers. 

"The Communications & Public Affairs Department supports councilpersons with any media relations or social media inquiries as requested," a city spokesperson said in-part in an email.

City officials have not publicly stated whether any specific city policy, ethics provision, procurement rule, or state law was violated.

WINK Investigates has submitted an additional public records request seeking correspondence and records related to the city's review, its decision to require repayment, and communications surrounding the reimbursement process.

"The City continuously reviews its policies and procedures to ensure appropriate oversight and accountability," Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson said in-part in an email. "For any questions regarding the specific circumstances surrounding these payments or the reimbursement, I would suggest reaching out directly to Councilmember Bochette."

WINK Investigates approached each city council member for comment at their workshop Monday afternoon, but all of them declined. WINK Investigates also contacted each councilmember via email but have not yet heard back.

If you have a story you want WINK Investigates to dig into, email us at winkinvestigates@winknews.com or call our tip line at (239)-344-5074.